Need a Graphing Calculator Without the Crushing Cost? There Are Options!

School supply shopping was easy when it was just a matter of buying a backpack, some pens, and a notebook or two. But as students start entering middle school, high school, and college, their courses start demanding more specific, and often more costly, school supplies. Perhaps the most daunting of these, both for its price tag and its comparatively niche usage, is the graphing calculator.

If it’s been a while since you’ve had a (likely Texas Instruments) graphing calculator of your own, and you’re wondering why you need to spend on a specialized calculator when your kid already has a smartphone and standard calculator, here’s the long and the short of it: while a regular calculator simply displays a numerical answer to an inputted equation (and, as we all remember, can spell out “hELLO” if you type in “07734” and flip it upside down), a graphing calculator can plot coordinates and graph functions. Not only does that mean it can tackle far more complex equations, but this visual component means that students can actually see these mathematical and scientific principles in action, making it easier to retain that information. As Texas Instruments, the leading manufacturer of graphing calculators, points out on their website, “A graphing calculator helps students continuously build upon their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to perform better in math and science. When your child can see expressions, formulas and graphs come to life in their hands, they’re able to make connections that lead to a deeper understanding of important concepts.”

Graphing calculators have become so ubiquitous in, and arguably crucial to, high school and college math that many models are permitted on and recommended for exams like the SAT, ACT, PSAT and AP exams.

Best Graphing Calculators

What to Consider

• Size & Weight: This mathematical tool is something your student will be regularly hauling back and forth from class to class, so consider its place within their backpack for those times where its not in use. A difference of one ounce or one inch between calculator options isn't much on its own, but when compounded with the rest of their school supplies, it may make the difference between a helpful tool and a hassle.
• Battery: Graphing calculators are, in most cases, powered either by rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries or replaceable AAA batteries. Solar power, while a viable option for many other types of calculators, isn't for graphing calculators, whose computing power demands nearly 4 times the amount of energy as a standard scientific calculator! So the choice boils down to whether one prefers plugging in the calculator to recharge or simply replacing the batteries.
• Approved for Exams: If you're investing in a graphing calculator with an eye towards exams, not all graphing calculators are created equal. And, indeed, not all tests have the same rules and regulations when it comes to what graphic calculators they permit. For example, graphing calculators with contain a CAS (Computer Algebra System), are permitted on SAT and AP exams, but by virtue of their functionality providing arguably too much assistance on the questions required on the ACT, they are not permitted for that particular exam.

Finding the right graphing calculator for your student can be a challenge, particularly when the guidance offered by your school district feels like it may be guiding you to a fairly costly investment. We've curated the best graphing calculators for every type of student, and every financial situation, to ensure your child gets the classroom assistance they need to succeed.