Scientific and graphing calculators fall into this category, using circuit boards and lithium batteries in order to work. This includes: Electronic CalculatorsĪn electronic calculator is able to solve complex problems. You might look really weird busting this out to calculate the tip at a restaurant, but at least you’ll be interacting with a piece of history!Ĭalculators can also be broken down by how they look or how they function. Go for a vintage look by picking up a mechanical calculator, which were all the rage in the 19th century. AbacusesĬan you imagine using beans or stones to do math? Well, that was the method of choice before the abacus was invented in ancient Babylonia! Today, this tool is made from bamboo and beads and is part of many elementary and primary classrooms. Our phones can do it all and that includes math problems! The calculator is a built-in app, like text messaging and email, that comes preprogrammed in all types of smartphones. If you need a more advanced online calculator, look into websites like Desmos and GeoGabra. Most laptops and PCs also have a calculator that you can use right on the desktop. Simply type in an equation, and the algorithm is usually smart enough to produce an answer. Google is capable of pretty amazing things. They’re not as common as other types of calculators, but they’re useful for realtors, accountants, and financial advisors. You can use one to figure out interest rates, mortgage payments, and cash flows. Financial CalculatorsĪ financial calculator is, as the name suggests, geared towards calculating finances. This old-school calculator is great for those who work with money. If you want a record of your calculations, a printing calculator should be your new best friend! The numbers and figures are printed on a piece of paper that rips off at the top. They’re more advanced and are capable of performing many complex functions such as plotting graphs and completing logarithms. Graphic calculators are a type of scientific calculator that are also used by students, namely those in college. The most commonly purchased brand is Texas Instruments (TI).

These calculators are often used by students taking algebra, trigonometry, or geometry. It’s impossible to graduate middle school or high school without a scientific calculator. Use a basic calculator at home to figure out your monthly budget, or when you’re trying to cook a new recipe. It’s able to do simple arithmetic, which includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Basic CalculatorsĪ basic calculator is sometimes referred to as a 4-function calculator. The different types of calculators are broken down and described below.

What Are the Different Types of Calculators?Įvery calculator can do basic arithmetic, but there are some that are more advanced than others. Printing and financial calculators are a must for those who work with money. These gadgets help us crunch numbers, estimate answers, and calculate even the most seemingly unsolvable equations! How Many Types of Calculator Are There?īasic calculators are used by just about everyone to solve common equations, while scientific and graphing calculators are geared towards math students.

While these words and phrases aren’t as commonly used, they do give you a clear indication of why we use calculators. You can refer to a calculator as any of the following: It comes from the Latin calculatus, which means “to reckon or compute.”

The word “calculator” was used for the first time in the late 14th century. The calculator may still have its day! What is Another Word for Calculator? Here’s an exploration of the different types of calculators you can choose from. There may come a day in our lifetimes where kids hear the word “calculator” and think “what?!” With a shift in the way math is being taught, and new technology coming out all the time, the humble calculator may just get buried in a drawer and forgotten about.Īnd isn’t that a shame?! These helpful tools have made equations easier since the mid-1600s.

Scientific paper equation maker