Best Graphing Calculators for High School Students

The TI-Nspire II CX is a powerful device to meet the complex computing needs of high school students. It has a Full-color screen with a backlit display that shows numbers and expressions clearly. It also has a Computer Algebra System (CAS) that makes it easy to understand and solve complex expressions. With this graphing calculator, you can create faster and stronger connections between equations, graphs and, geometric representations on the screen. The battery of this device is rechargeable and lasts up to two weeks on a single charge. It can be said that TI-Nspire CX is the thinnest and lightest model of TI graphing calculators to date, and this feature makes it easy to carry. Considering the mentioned features, it is clear that this device is one of the best graphing calculators on the market, so it is in second place on our list.

Pros:

• Lightweight and easy to carry
• High performance and unique features
• Backlit color display
• Rechargeable battery
• CAS functionality
• Ample RAM

Cons:

• Not allowed in ACT Test

The TI-84 Plus CE is the first choice of many high school students and the most popular graphing calculator. This version of the Texas Instruments brand is designed to be 30% lighter and thinner than previous versions. Available in eight different colors, it charges easily with a USB cable and has pre-loaded apps and images that enhance its performance. The display of this calculator is high-resolution and full-color with backlit. It is designed to provide the user with seven different graph styles to differentiate the appearance of each graph. The TI-84 Plus CE is a perfect device and can be an ideal choice for high school and college students.

Pros:

• Trusted and widely used by high school students
• Comprehensive functionality
• Allowed in SAT and ACT
• Thoughtful design
• Easy to work with
• Has a decimal to fraction converter

Cons:

• It’s expensive
• Prices vary according to color

The PRIZM FX-CG50 is a graphing calculator from the        Casio brand and it is a suitable choice for high school students. It has a high-resolution LCD with more than 65,000 colors, which allows the device to present graphs vividly. This device is also able to display graphs in three dimensions. PRIZM FX-CG50 is easy to use and its Natural textbook display feature enables you to see the expressions as they appear in the textbook. The use of this calculator is approved in AP, SAT I / II, PSAT, NMSQT, and ACT tests, so purchasing this device can be a good investment for high school students.

Pros:

• High-Resolution Color LCD with over 65,000 colors
• Natural textbook display
• Picture plot technology
• 3D graphing capability
• Approved for AP, SAT I/II, PSAT/NMSQT, and ACT Tests
• 2900+ functions
• USB cable included
• Icon-driven menu system

Cons:

• It’s not easy to navigate
• The USB cable has low quality

NumWorks Graphing Calculator can also be a good choice for those high school students who are looking for a reliable Graphing calculator to help them in class. A distinctive feature of the device is that it can automatically calculate the value of y. The battery is rechargeable, which lasts a long time on a single charge. The color screen is high resolution. NumWorks is a user-friendly device. Its keyboard design is divided into three thematic parts to use by users easily: navigational area, advanced functions area, and a numerical keypad. It can be said that NumWorks is an innovative and beautiful device in terms of appearance and performance and can help students to understand complex math problems.

Pros:

• The ergonomic design features
• Six built-in apps
• Rechargeable battery
• User friendly and easy to learn
• High-resolution color screen
• High capacity
• USB cable included

Cons:

• TI calculators are more user-friendly and have a similar price
• Not enough RAM and not enough flash memory

The Casio fx-9750GII is an entry-level graphing calculator yet is a reliable computing device for high school students. It has a large 8-line display that makes all the numbers and expressions you won’t easily fit on one screen. The icon-based menu of this device provides easy access to advanced functions. It has 4 AAA batteries that last more than 200 hours. This device has a USB connectivity that allows high school students to share their data. The Casio fx-9750GII is allowed in the PSAT / NMSQT, SAT, ACT, and AP, which is another reason why this device is a good choice.

Pros:

• USB connectivity
• Mid-range price
• Allowed in both ACT, PSAT and SAT
• Straightforward navigation
• High-resolution LCD screen
• High-speed CPU
• More than 200 hours battery life

Cons:

• Doesn’t have all of a top calculator’s functionality
• Lack of memory space
• Fewer third-party apps