Calculator Types – Calculators come in several different varieties. The most popular types of calculators are listed below.
- Display Calculators
- Scientific Calculators
- Graphing Calculators
- Financial Calculators
- Printing Calculators
Display Calculators – are the most common and basic calculators available. They perform basic math operations such as adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Many display calculators also have a small memory to store the result. These calculators usually contain an LCD display and many are powered by solar cells. Display calculators are inexpensive and generally cost less than $10.
Scientific Calculators – are more advanced than basic calculators. They perform trigonometric functions and have a larger memory. These calculators usually cost between $10 and $20.
Graphing Calculators – perform even more advanced functions than scientific calculators. They have larger memories and are able to store and graph equations. As a result, graphing calculators have a larger screen to display the graphs. They range in price from about $40 to $150.
Financial Calculators – are specially designed to perform financial calculations. They usually cost between $10 and $30.
Printing Calculators – contain a roll of paper on which they print the input and results. These figures are displayed on the screen as well. Most printing calculators perform only basic mathematic functions. They generally cost between $15 and $100.
Solar Calculators – Many basic calculators are powered by solar cells rather than batteries. These cells, called photovoltaic cells, convert sunlight into electrical energy.
The photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are made of silicon, absorb part of the light that hits them. This releases electrons and creates an electrical current. The current is transferred to the calculator by metal contacts located on the top and bottom of the photovoltaic cells.