The original post: Question on Quora.

The question is: What are the benefits of a graphing calculator outside of class?

And the discussion, on Quora, contains a lot of replies like "calculators are useless".

edit: some related entries with the search "site:hpmuseum.org future OR tablet OR iphone Or ipad OR smartphone OR handheld calculator".

- The future of programmable calc.

- 50G--End of the HP calculator era?

- What's the place of a handheld calculator?

- Who uses a graphing calculator and for what?

Edited: 29 Aug 2013, 2:39 a.m. after one or more responses were posted

A couple of, somehow related, blasts from the past:

2010
2004

Greetings,
Massimo

Thanks, you have a great memory!

No, I'm googlin' through...

:D

the 'quora' website appears to not be open for public viewing, you need to log in to view beyond the first few replies. i generally ignore websites like that.

but, on the whole, i tend to agree - outside of a teaching course tailored to require the (usually specific) calculator, they have little real-world application. in the real world, if someone needs to do anything requiring more than a competent pocket (non-graphing) calculator is capable of, they use a computer running excel or whatever other package they prefer.

as a teaching tool, the graphing calculator is held up by the manufacturers as an essential item, but then the salespeople have a vested interest. yes, you can give the kids a neat tool that easily fits on the desk; yes, you can relieve the student of the need to master using a pencil and ruler; yes, you can give them access to advanced functionality without having any idea how it works. but, this is at the expense of training them to use a tool that is unlikely to be encountered outside of the classroom. currently, we do the student a disservice.

i'd far rather see students taught to solve problems using the tools that are available to them throughout their life: pencil, paper, 4-function calculator, 'traditional' scientific calculator, excel, etc.

just my 2 cents worth.

rob :-)

When our kids were in high school and a graphing calculator was required for math classes, they said the only thing the graphics got used for was games. One of our kids took one of my old TI-59's instead and used it as a basic calculator and did better than all the kids who had the graphing calculators. The other one was bought the graphing calculator by my wife who was afraid he would fall behind without it, and he aced the class without ever using the graphing.

Hello all.

My vote is for the preservation and continued manufacture of the handheld.

Since I've been around calcs ever since I was six and had my first real powerhouse, an SR-56 when I was 11, I am very partial to dedicated devices, especially when it comes to calculators.

Although yes, the perspectives regarding the way math is taught and understood nowadays as compared to 35-40 years ago, I still feel that the pocket scientific, programmable and , nowadays, programmable graphing calcs, are relevant because, like it's been posted here in various threads, the calc is not only verification of a good thought process, calculators provide as a tool for vital, foundational and essential mathematical concepts. Moreso, to my points in favour of the handheld is the strength that RPN helps reinforce, structure and enhance those math literacy points I've just mentioned.

Yes, the smartphone has all these TI, Casio, Sharp and HP emulators available but, a dedicated calc such as a HP-50G, HP-41CX, TI-92, TI-86, provides for a more concrete, active physical exposure to the calc's functionality, characteristics and operating system. Combine these with the added functionalities of expansion and device communication to and with other peripherals, I am convinced and dedicated to the point that there is just no substitute for the real thing, a handheld calculator.

This thread, from just four months ago, is pertinent:

http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/archv021.cgi?read=218539

One surveyor makes professional use of graphing, but there's little else to suggest that the graphing capability as such offers much permanent utility. (A big screen is nice, however.)

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This thread, from just four months ago,

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Modulo 12.

:D

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The original post: Question on Quora.

The question is: What are the benefits of a graphing calculator outside of class?

And the discussion, on Quora, contains a lot of replies like "calculators are useless".

edit: some related entries with the search "site:hpmuseum.org future OR tablet OR iphone Or ipad OR smartphone OR handheld calculator".

- The future of programmable calc.

- 50G--End of the HP calculator era?

- What's the place of a handheld calculator?

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For me personally, I use graphing calculators to assist me in further studies in math. Plus the graphing calculator is where I have learned how to program.

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the 'quora' website appears to not be open for public viewing, you need to log in to view beyond the first few replies. i generally ignore websites like that.

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Yes, unfortunately Quora is not completely open (what a pity) but it is a great site in my opinion, it is worth a registration.