by idatum on 3/9/25, 5:02 AM with 81 comments
And I don't see much progress then trying my daughter's TI-84.
by inejge on 3/9/25, 11:01 AM
Don't expect great changes in this area, although the impending death of the Dept. of Education might shake up things. Not for the better, I think.
by seoulbigchris on 3/12/25, 2:10 PM
I had been curious how slide rules worked, and had found one after searching high and low for in half a dozen stores before finding probably the last one for sale in Atlanta. The slide rule was in my backpack, so I asked the proctor, could I used the slide rule instead? He chuckled, and said no problem. During the test, one of the proctors tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if he could bring me a bucket of water to cool down my "slip stick". I did pass the test that day, and I used to brag that I got my Extra Class license with a "Slide Rule endorsement".
by Suppafly on 3/10/25, 7:37 PM
I'm not sure I really understand your question, TI-84 (and all other TI models) don't use RPN. You can run a program to allow RPN input you want, since most of the higher TIs are programmable. I believe some of HPs current lineup have a limited RPN mode available and SwissMicro makes some new RPN calculators.
>I took an exam today where only TI calculators were available.
That's common as they are the ones used to teach math classes and are vetted to prevent cheating on standardized tests.
>I felt I was caught between some older models where the TI interface was not quite worked out.
I have no idea what this is supposed to mean.
>And I don't see much progress then trying my daughter's TI-84.
Nor this.
by linguae on 3/9/25, 12:58 PM
https://www.swissmicros.com/products
There is also the HP-15c Collector’s Edition (I have one), which is still in stock: https://www.thecalculatorstore.com/c/hp15c
Two caveats:
1. These RPN calculators are not cheap.
2. Many standardized tests have lists of approved calculators, and it’s possible that the calculators I mentioned might not be on the list. TI has dominated the education market in the United States for the past few decades, and even during the heyday of HP’s RPN calculators, HP largely focused on engineers and other professionals rather than education. Thus, you may need to buy a TI calculator for exam purposes.
I love RPN calculators: I have a HP-48X that I bought used on eBay nearly 20 years ago when I was an undergrad, and my aforementioned HP-15c Collector’s Edition. However, these are collectibles for me; as a computer science professor I’m always in front of a computer, and thus I have access to the Unix dc command whenever I need an RPN calculator, and for more complex computations I have my choice of Excel and various programming languages.
by jqpabc123 on 3/9/25, 2:35 PM
The link below is for a near perfect simulation of the classic HP-15C RPN calculator. Works on both desktop and mobile.
In a former lifetime, I was an engineer. I bought one of these in the early 1980s and used it for almost 40 years before the screen died. Very popular among my colleagues at the time.
by donatj on 3/12/25, 2:01 PM
I want a calculator that can do all the transforms for me and show the work so I know what I'm doing.
For my day-to-day needs I literally run a TI-89 emulator on my android phone these days. Seems silly.
by aforwardslash on 3/9/25, 12:48 PM
by charlieglass on 3/12/25, 2:00 PM
by RandomBacon on 3/9/25, 1:23 PM
RPN = reverse Polish notation
by rightbyte on 3/9/25, 9:27 AM
by simne on 3/12/25, 6:49 PM
What also interest, in early 2000s, Russia made modern remake, with much improved performance and added digital i/o, and compatible with old programs (even emulated some old glitches), so it could really run tons of programs one could find on old books/magazines.
I could not recommend anybody to buy Russian calculators, just want to say, this is very significant niche (RPN), but hugely depend on compatibility (with old software and old books) and on nostalgia.
by ChrisMarshallNY on 3/12/25, 2:19 PM
But if you really want it, and are an Apple user, I have found that the PCalc app[0] has been excellent (I've used it for over 30 years). It works on multiple (Apple) platforms, and has RPN (the real RPN) built in, as a selectable option.
I suspect there's similar apps for Windows, Linux, and Android.
by drvladb on 3/9/25, 1:18 PM
by RecycledEle on 3/9/25, 12:19 PM
As rightbyte said, RPN is an HP thing, so if you want an RPN calculator, ask for an HP. Most test administrators can help you.
by gperkins978 on 3/12/25, 7:23 PM
I do know that even my TI-85 was programmable. I made a few different functions with it. If you try anything too sophisticated, there really is not sufficient space for it, but it was the first device I ever wrote any kind of program on. I used that through university, but for work I had the HP 12c with reverse Polish notation. Now that was useless. I could never understand why old men preferred that to Excel. Excel is better in every way, and one can write pretty sophisticated functions and simulations in Excel VBA. I spent years doing so.
Overall, I do not see the point in bringing out new calculators. I do think the existing ones should have more RAM and storage with a bit more computational heft, but only 1-3% of owners are ever going to use that, but it will make them so much better.
by jasonthorsness on 3/12/25, 2:10 PM
by parsimo2010 on 3/12/25, 2:32 PM
But if you really wanted to keep using a calculator, you should check out the HP Prime, Casio Prizm, or TI-Nspire series. The HP Prime has RPN, and all of these lines have color touch screens and a bunch of modern features. The TI-84 is not the pinnacle of technology, it is popular only because it is an exam-acceptable and an old standard format that people are used to.
by JumpCrisscross on 3/12/25, 6:26 PM
https://www.promarket.org/2024/04/08/tis-calculator-monopoly...
(Also, TI supports RPN. It also supports PN and infix notation.)
by cameldrv on 3/12/25, 2:40 PM
by johnea on 3/12/25, 6:44 PM
In addition to having several of these, I also use this desktop emulator:
by tgv on 3/12/25, 2:46 PM
If you want a non-TI calculator that's allowed in the classroom: look at the Casio and Numworks.
by HachiWari8 on 3/11/25, 1:14 AM
by SAI_Peregrinus on 3/12/25, 4:13 PM
There are RPN calculator apps for phones (I like RealCalc on Android).
There are RPN calculator programs for computers (I like Qalculate for GUI, Orpie for a terminal).
There are emulators for the old HP RPN calculators.
Physical calculators are pretty much only useful for situations where internet access isn't allowed, like some exams in school.
by leros on 3/12/25, 2:53 PM
by showdeaduser on 3/10/25, 9:04 AM
by oneoverten on 3/11/25, 4:34 AM
by lo_zamoyski on 3/12/25, 3:07 PM
And what is this "progress" you speak of? Frankly, I don't know that these calculators should be used in instruction anyway. It smacks of attempts to "modernize education" by throwing computers are it, without justification. Why? Computing devices have their place, but their utility is practical, and their pedagogic value in primary education is limited to specific applications. Using them to teach math seems off. You shouldn't be wasting time on things that have little educational value but that would require a computing device to expedite tedious work.
by dwighttk on 3/12/25, 1:46 PM