Scientific Calculators

Any of the calculators below get the job done for students of mathematics in high school, they all have two line display and have natural textbook display.
In the world of calculators,
there are basically two main providers Texas Instruments and Casio.  

Texas Instruments Products

  • TI 30XLIIS does NOT simplify radicals
  • TI 30XS Multiview and TI 34 Multiview are better versions of TI 30XLIIS
  • While TI 36X Pro is more expensive and it has a slightly steeper learning curve on usage, it is in Mr. Mr. Hickman's opinion the best SCIENTIFIC CALCULATOR on the market

Casio Products

  • One note on Casio is that many students find that while these calculators are good, students may need to get used to using an approximation button.   
  • Prices were taken from CASIO website not local stores
  • I would recommend FX-300MS plus LAST of available choices above

Calculators to avoid purchasing

While these calculators are better than no calculator, they do not follow the natural flow of mathematics and do not allow students to use a GO back feature which can be VERY helpful!

Graphing Calculators

  • A graphing calculator is NOT required by any non-IB course
  • Mr. Hickman has a set of TI Nspire Calculators in class and he will instruct with these calculators in class to investigate mathematics.  
  • A graphing calculator is certainly an awesome tool to own, but there are times in class that Mr. Hickman will not allow the use of a graphing calculator, specifically when attempting to assess students ability to graph and interpret functions by hand or with a scientific calculator.  This means that students that own graphing calculators will still need a scientific calculator.
  • IF students and parents are interested in purchasing a graphing calculator, the mathematics staff suggests the purchase of one of the TI products below mainly because of familiarity with operation of said calculators.
  • While CASIO does offer a significantly cheaper version of a graphing calculator, most of the mathematics staff will direct instruction with Texas Instruments Products. 
  • TI 83 plus is the precursor to TI 84 plus and while not a bad calculator, it is significantly less powerful than any of the other Texas Instruments Graphing Calculators 
  • TI 84 plus is the basic non color version of Texas Instruments graphing calculator
  • TI 84 Plus CE is the an improvement on the TI 84 plus (not just with color option)
  • TI Nspire CX is the best graphing calculator allowed on all versions of standardized tests like ACT, PSAT, SAT, etc.
  • TI 84 plus CE and TI Nspire come with computer software that is really pretty cool. 

Graphing Calculators to avoid purchasing

  • These graphing calculators have a Computer Algebra System or CAS which most high school mathematics teachers would not let you use in class and some of the standardized tests will not allow their use like SAT, ACT, etc.
  • Again the Casio Graphing Calculators are not suggested merely because the mathematics staff has primarily been trained to use and does use the TI 84 and TI Nspire Graphing Calculators.