Texas Instruments TI-30X IIS 2-Line Scientific Calculator

• Robust, professional grade scientific calculator
• It has 2-line display shows entry and calculated result at same time
• Easily handles 1 and 2 variable statistical calculations
• Three angle modes (degrees, radians, and grads) and scientific and engineering notation modes
• It has 1-year limited warranty

This is probably the best calculator for middle to high school kids. I got mine in seventh grade and it was all I needed until calculus. In fact, we weren't even allowed to use graphing calculators until pre-calc. I held off getting one until calculus, though, because my TI-30XIIS did everything i needed it to and was so easy to use.

The best thing:

-you can enter entire expressions and solve them. this is because, unlike earlier models, functions like sine, cosine, tangent, square root, etc. are entered before the number. for example, with other models you would punch in 45 and hit tan, and it would automatically give you the answer 1. With the 30XIIS, however, you press tan, then 1, then enter. It seems like a disadvantage at first, but when you are doing more complicated math and need to enter a whole line of info, it's a huge time-saver.

Other good things:

-You can go back and substitute other numbers into your expression. This is great when you are doing guess-and-check work, but it was most useful in chemistry and physics, when I had to use the same formula with a lot of different values. I was really bummed to discover the graphing calculators didn't have the ability to go back to an expression you've already solved.

-The buttons are arranged really logically. There were about three buttons grouped together up in the corner that I never used (I think they're maybe for statistics), but they were totally out of the way. When you're doing trig, all the buttons you need are near each other. Same with logs and everything else. After using this calculator for a while, you can key things in so fast. Hitting 2nd [ans] is like a reflex now.

Bad things:

-The buttons were a little loose after about my third year with my TI-30XIIS. this didn't cause any problems with how it worked (at least in the next two years), but the buttons were sort of crooked in their slots. Again, only an aesthetic issue. This didn't affect the performance at all.

-Sometimes, if you don't hit clear before you start your expression, it will use your last answer as the first number in your new equation. This isn't much of a problem, b/c it only happens due to operator error, and hitting clear becomes reflexive. It'll happen to you, I promise. Honestly, if you looked around during a test when i was in algebra II, you would see at least one person unconsciously mashing the clear button. which also attests to the durability of this calculator.

So, that is the TI-30XIIS from the perspective of a high school student. basically, it is the best calculator i've ever owned, far superior in basic math to my TI-84+. And it's incredibly cheap. Calculating just doesn't get any better than this.

Buy Texas Instruments TI-30X IIS 2-Line Scientific Calculator Now

Main Points:

I used this calculator for over 10 years before it finally stopped working, and I treated it fairly roughly (e.g.,coffe spills). I think others here have attested to the functionality of the TI-30, so I just want to emphasize that it's a tough little gadget as well. Yes, the buttons are on the small side and there is a bit of play, but this was never a major problem (although at times it slows down data entry). You can go to http://education.ti.com/downloads for a good overview of TI calculators, and you can scope out one of TI's major competitors at http://www.casio.com.

A Little History:

This was also one of the first commercially available low-priced calculators that had two-line display and backspace to correct or edit data entry. The dual-power and scrolling display features were also once unusual. The top line (for data entry) shows up to 11 characters; you can scroll backwards or forwards up to 88! The bottom line (shows results) displays up to a 10-digit answer along with a 2-digit exponent.

Individual Needs Differ:

From the reviews here, it appears that high school math is now more difficult than it once was. If you know that you're going to need graphing capability, then obviously this is not the choice for you. Similarly, the prevalence of laptop computers and math/stats software may obviate the need for some of the more advanced features.

Recommendation:

The layout is very good and, for such a low price, it packs a lot of calculating might. However, high school (or college)students may want to narrow their choices and then ask their teacher which one has the most relevant functions for the next few years of math. Compared to twenty-five or so years ago, one can now get a lot more calculator for the money. Depending on your budget, therefore, you might determine that a calculator like this is sufficient for your short-term needs, but that you'll need a new one if you go on to more advanced stats and math. In any event, this is a durable calculator that works very well.

Read Best Reviews of Texas Instruments TI-30X IIS 2-Line Scientific Calculator Here

: 0:47 Mins

I needed a calculator for my chemistry class and I couldn't use my graphing one that I've had for the last six years so I went ahead and ordered this because it was the best selling scientific one from TI. Little did I know that it is an OLD model. I would avoid this product and go for the newer version of the TI-30! The TI-30XS is the same price and is much more usable and has more features! The buttons on this calculator are VERY loose and make data entry tricky for fast calculation. One must constantly verify that each button press has been recognized. These loose buttons are annoying if you are accustomed to quick calculations. It makes the calculator essentially unusable. I expected much more from Texas Instruments, as I really adore my 83+SE, but this is an utter disappointment.

I wish amazon had alerted me to the new version (as they do with some other products).

ALL POTENTIAL BUYERS, GET THIS ONE INSTEAD:

TI-30XS Multiview Calculator

Want Texas Instruments TI-30X IIS 2-Line Scientific Calculator Discount?

Nice to finally see TI step into the two-line solar calculator market. Very easy to use and the buttons have a solid feel. I also like the large display so you can easily see both the equation and the answer.

Why did it give the TI-30 II only four stars? For the same price, there are good two-line calcs (Casio FX-115 MS for example) which include a larger library of functions (base calculations, integrals, derivates, solve function) for the same amount of money.

Save 41% off

When I was taking courses in calculus and physics, I used the TI-86 because it had more functions and was more powerful, for the kind of math that was needed.

However, the TI30XIIS is an excellent scientific calculator. It has most of the functions of a scientific calculator, with the scrollable screen that lets you check your numbers before multiplying, and perform many operations using the "Ans" function. As an organic chemist, it's the only calculator I need when it comes to doing simple chemistry calculations, which involve a lot of basic operations.

If you need to do derivates, integrals, polynomials, etc, then you should get something more powerful. If you just want a calculator to do your basic math yet allow you to check your numbers with ease, then this is a great calculator to have.