

Make sure the display resolution suits your needs and reading preferences, with numbers that are a comfortable size, style and darkness for you to read.My eyes already hurt from taking a computer based exam this morning. In bright environments, dim displays can also be a problem.Some lower-end calculators have displays that show “ghosts” of numbers not currently displayed and can be hard to read. The brightness and resolution of the display can be a deciding factor.If there are batteries, make sure they are a common type (such as AA or AAA) and are easy to access without requiring tools.Solar power is convenient and reduces battery waste, but can be a hassle if you forgot to charge it (if you left it in a backpack or briefcase, for example) and there is no backup.Some calculators are solar-powered but still might have battery backup. Consider the type of battery and how easy it is to access.Ideally, a single calculator will meet all your needs, but some students end up with three calculators: an arithmetic-only simple calculator, a scientific calculator and a graphing calculator.

What’s required in one context may be banned in another.

These features are generally accessed by buttons that have multiple functions each. Scientific or engineering calculators have a number of advanced abilities and functions such as exponentiation, taking roots, logarithmic functions, calculating trigonometric functions and many others. On the flip side, some higher-level math classes such as calculus instead require graphing and/or programming capabilities. Both of these abilities are typically not allowed in standardized testing scenarios.
#Helect 2 line engineering calculator how to#
Many algebra classes, for example, do not allow graphing calculators because part of the course material is learning how to graph equations and functions, so a calculator that does it for the student is barred.Īnother functionality that may not be permitted in certain courses is the ability to program the calculator, such as to do recursive or serial operations.

If the user is a student, some calculators may have too much functionality and will not be allowed by the teacher or professor. Scientific and engineering calculators are equipped to handle most operations that students and science professionals will need to perform on a day-to-day basis, though there are a number of factors that are important to keep in mind. However, for students in math or science courses or for professionals who work in the realms of engineering, math, information technology or computer science, more advanced functionality in a calculator is required. Calculators are useful for many common tasks such as balancing a budget or calculating tax.
