Calulator recommendations.

[raito]

Looks like I need to purchase for the daughter a calculator. To brag just a bit, she's in 4th grade and has been invited to take the PSAT 8/9 through the NUMATS program. That test has a section where the use of a calculator is recommended (and the practice questions bear that out).

This isn't for me. I have the one I used in college, or I use the one on my desktop well enough. It can't be a program. I think she'd prefer infix to postfix notation, so some of the HP variants may be out. I haven't had to buy one in decades.

It must be from the following list:
CASIO
FX-6000 series
FX-6200 series
FX-6300 series
FX-6500 series
FX-7000 series
FX-7300 series
FX-7400 series
FX-7500 series
FX-7700 series
FX-7800 series
FX-8000 series
FX-8500 series
FX-8700 series
FX-8800 series
FX-9700 series
FX-9750 series
FX-9860 series
CFX-9800 series
CFX-9850 series
CFX-9950 series
CFX-9970 series
FX 1.0 series
Algebra FX 2.0 series
FX-CG-10
FX-CG-20 series
FX-CG-50
Graph25 series
Graph35 series
Graph75 series
Graph95 series
Graph100 series
HEWLETT-PACKARD
HP-9G
HP-28 series
HP-38G
HP-39 series
HP-40 series
HP-48 series
HP-49 series
HP-50 series
HP Prime
RADIO
SHACK
EC-4033
EC-4034
OTHER
Datexx DS-883
Micronta
SHARP
EL-5200
EL-9200 series
EL-9300 series
EC-4037
NumWorks
Smart2
EL-9900 series
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS
TI-73
TI-80
TI-81
TI-82
TI-83/TI-83 Plus

TI-83 Plus Silver
TI-84 Plus
TI-84 Plus CE
TI-84 Plus Silver
TI-84 Plus C Silver
TI-84 Plus CE-T
TI-84 Plus T
TI-85
TI-86
TI-89
TI-89 Titanium
TI-Nspire
TI-Nspire CX
TI-Nspire CM-C
TI-Nspire CAS
TI-Nspire CX CAS
TI-Nspire CM-C CAS
TI-Nspire CX-C CAS

What are you using that might be appropriate for her?

 

[Old Tele man]

Check with her school...they usually have RULES about which ones they'll let students use (often due to teacher familiarity).

TI and most Casio use algebraic data entry, while HP often use Reverse-Polish-Notation (RPN) data entry...BIG thought process difference.

Also, gotta be careful, as usually "programmable" calculators are NOT allowed for fear of cheating.

 

[irie]

I have nothing to contribute to this conversation, but that is a hell of a list of options.

They couldn't narrow it down at all for you?

 

[Boubou]

Don’t see why you would need a graphing calculator for a 4th grader.
Anything with the 4 basic functions should do?
Personally I am partial to HP scientific with RPN, I have 2.

 

[BelairPlayer]

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a very different HP than we know today made the best calculators available to modern man, with the highly efficient RPN entry system.
Meanwhile, Texas Instrument made very fine, but not nearly as good, calculators, but they had the good sense and foresight to practically flood educators with free, or nearly free devices, grants, etc.
Can you guess which brand of calculator most curriculum are based around these days?
Buy the nicest TI calculator you can afford and she’ll be just fine.

 

[Togman]

Go for one with a maple board. And tubes will give you a better result in my experience.

 

[jimd]

Check with her school...they usually have RULES about which ones they'll let students use (often due to teacher familiarity).

TI and most Casio use algebraic data entry, while HP often use Reverse-Polish-Notation (RPN) data entry...BIG thought process difference.

Also, gotta be careful, as usually "pre-programmable" calculators are NOT allowed for fear of cheating.

What he said!

A lot of textbooks are written for specific calculators. TI cornered the market on graphing calculators because theirs are tied to a lot of books. No sense in buying one and having to get a different one for her school classes.

 

[Old Tele man]

Don’t see why you would need a graphing calculator for a 4th grader.
Anything with the 4 basic functions should do?
Personally I am partial to HP scientific with RPN, I have 2.

In addition to my trusty old slide rules (neither batteries nor sunlight required!), I have/use:

HP 28C
HP 35s
Casio ƒx-450 (solar)
Casio ƒx-260 (solar)
Casio ƒx-115ES (solar)
Casio CM-100 (solar)

 

[geoff_in_nc]

^^^^^^ what jimd said

And congrats on a smart daughter... I bet you're proud! Keep her challenged!

 

[raito]

Check with her school...they usually have RULES about which ones they'll let students use (often due to teacher familiarity).

That list comes from the testing agency. That list IS the RULES about which ones are allowed. This has little to do with school itself.

Don’t see why you would need a graphing calculator for a 4th grader.
Anything with the 4 basic functions should do?
Personally I am partial to HP scientific with RPN, I have 2.

She needs one because she's taking a test meant for 8th and 9th graders. 4 function calculators are allowed, but discouraged. Looking at some of the practice questions, I can see why.

And while I like RPN, she has had no exposure to it and I'd rather not go that route with her just yet.

^^^^^^ what jimd said

And congrats on a smart daughter... I bet you're proud! Keep her challenged!

Thanks! And I am very proud. It's been tough keeping her challenged, especially for reading. The stuff she likes to read at the level she should be reading at contains subjects she's not really ready to tackle.

And her brother is following in her footsteps, but because of the make up of his classmates is different (he was the only student reading in his school in kindergarten) he's getting some of what he needs.

Both follow their grandfather, who was figuring out batting averages from box scores at 4. And their mother. And me a bit, too. They have less drive, though.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a very different HP than we know today made the best calculators available to modern man, with the highly efficient RPN entry system.
Meanwhile, Texas Instrument made very fine, but not nearly as good, calculators, but they had the good sense and foresight to practically flood educators with free, or nearly free devices, grants, etc.
Can you guess which brand of calculator most curriculum are based around these days?
Buy the nicest TI calculator you can afford and she’ll be just fine.

I agree with the history. I just haven't bought one in ages, so I know what was good 30-40 years ago and nothing about what's good now. I don't worry about affording any of them, which is nice.

 

[raito]

Looks like I'll be checking out a TI-84 variant. A co-worker has one he was going to recycle because he hasn't used it in ages (an occupational hazard of working in front of a screen all day).

In addition to my trusty old slide rules (neither batteries nor sunlight required!), I have/use:

Slide rules? Isn't that a bit, well, modern? My daughter and I made a few sets of Napier's Bones when she was in first grade.

 

[Boubou]

Oh that’s a game changer. Didn’t realize she was going for 8-9.
As for me they’ll pry my HP RPN out of my cold dead fingers. Though I am much less proficient with it then when I was studying at University.
I wouldn’t recomend it, though they are very good, I think their time has passed.
And remember calculators are just like guitars, it’s not the gear, it’s the fingers.
Congratulate her for me, it’s refreshing to see young ones good at something other than taking selfies and texting.
P.S.: yes I started with slide rules, promptly swtiched to a “concise”, circular slide rule

 

[Old Tele man]

Looks like I'll be checking out a TI-84 variant. A co-worker has one he was going to recycle because he hasn't used it in ages (an occupational hazard of working in front of a screen all day).



Slide rules? Isn't that a bit, well, modern? My daughter and I made a few sets of Napier's Bones when she was in first grade.

Nah, one is super high-tech because it's infinitely ( ∞ ) long (circular)!



P.S. - You want the calculator acceptable to BOTH the testing and her school teacher(s).

 

[Finck]

Don’t see why you would need a graphing calculator for a 4th grader.
Anything with the 4 basic functions should do?
Personally I am partial to HP scientific with RPN, I have 2.

Once one drinks the RPN water, it's very difficult to go back. I'm a RPN fan too. So easy, so logic...

Unfortunately, it appears that only HP uses the system nowadays, and just on graphical models (at least here in Brazil, not sure about the rest of world). The exception is the financial HP12C but I think it's useless for scientific/engineering usage.

 

[Boubou]

I got the app for iPhone iPad
The real one also and a newer one which you can switch to regular non RPN
Maybe we should start a thread in the pedal owners forum!

 

[raito]

Nah, one is super high-tech because it's infinity ( ∞ ) long (circular)!



P.S. - You want the calculator acceptable to BOTH the testing and her school teacher(s).

Yeah, I understand about the teachers. But I have no idea what they'll consider acceptable beyond a 4 function several years from now when it actually matters.

 

[bluzkat]

I have a few TI and a Sharp kicking around here (haven't used them in a few years). Back in the 70s I sold calculators most of the customers (Ford engineers) bought TI, a few would buy the HP.

From personal use I would recommend the TI, in a classroom setting the TIs will be more prominent and easier to get help with.

Just my two cents.

 

[Old Tele man]

At the defense/aerospace company I retired from, old engineers used either slide rules or HPs, new engineers used TI, Casio, etc..

 

[Deeve]

It's cool to have a smart daughter.

These are the kind of challenges Mrs Deeve and I have faced since grade school w/ our kid.
The other challenge is figuring out how to not be "those parents" (not saying OP was) who loudly trumpet their kid's smartitude.
When our girl needed a special calculator (similar thing) we spoke w/ the teacher and parents who already had their kid in the program.

Peace - Deeve

 

[Texicaster]

Looks like I need to purchase for the daughter a calculator. To brag just a bit, she's in 4th grade and has been invited to take the PSAT 8/9 through the NUMATS program. That test has a section where the use of a calculator is recommended (and the practice questions bear that out).

This isn't for me. I have the one I used in college, or I use the one on my desktop well enough. It can't be a program. I think she'd prefer infix to postfix notation, so some of the HP variants may be out. I haven't had to buy one in decades.

It must be from the following list:
CASIO
FX-6000 series
FX-6200 series
FX-6300 series
FX-6500 series
FX-7000 series
FX-7300 series
FX-7400 series
FX-7500 series
FX-7700 series
FX-7800 series
FX-8000 series
FX-8500 series
FX-8700 series
FX-8800 series
FX-9700 series
FX-9750 series
FX-9860 series
CFX-9800 series
CFX-9850 series
CFX-9950 series
CFX-9970 series
FX 1.0 series
Algebra FX 2.0 series
FX-CG-10
FX-CG-20 series
FX-CG-50
Graph25 series
Graph35 series
Graph75 series
Graph95 series
Graph100 series
HEWLETT-PACKARD
HP-9G
HP-28 series
HP-38G
HP-39 series
HP-40 series
HP-48 series
HP-49 series
HP-50 series
HP Prime
RADIO
SHACK
EC-4033
EC-4034
OTHER
Datexx DS-883
Micronta
SHARP
EL-5200
EL-9200 series
EL-9300 series
EC-4037
NumWorks
Smart2
EL-9900 series
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS
TI-73
TI-80
TI-81
TI-82
TI-83/TI-83 Plus

TI-83 Plus Silver
TI-84 Plus
TI-84 Plus CE
TI-84 Plus Silver
TI-84 Plus C Silver
TI-84 Plus CE-T
TI-84 Plus T
TI-85
TI-86
TI-89
TI-89 Titanium
TI-Nspire
TI-Nspire CX
TI-Nspire CM-C
TI-Nspire CAS
TI-Nspire CX CAS
TI-Nspire CM-C CAS
TI-Nspire CX-C CAS

What are you using that might be appropriate for her?

I still have my HP-50g and TI 84 Plus Silver from 3-4 years ago graduate level.

TI has more support; more instructors and lessons use these very calculators.

HP50g is a monster! Capable of way more! But it can be programmed.

In fact so can MOST of the clacs listed!

Everyone figures out how to drop say a quadratic eqn program.

IF the 50 series is on this list I'm surprised there is a list!

Texacaster