Background and Identification

Calculators come in a range of sizes, and perform various different tasks. Most modern scientific and graphing calculators are more powerful than older full-sized computers. Before the invention of the modern calculator, many technologies were created to help humans count and calculate various problems. It all began with the abacus, which simplified the addition of large quantities of units. With the passage of time, the slide rule became the next major advancement in calculators which was then dethroned by the use of mechanical calculators. The modern electronic calculator was introduced in the 1960s, but didn’t take the world by storm until the 1970s. By 1985, the first graphical calculator was introduced and further advancements in the calculator industry were made.

Today, there are three major types of calculators: basic, scientific, and graphic. Basic calculators can compute basic math functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponentiation, and logarithm. Scientific calculators compute much more complex equations and problems than basic calculators and are often used to solve statistical and trigonometric calculations. These calculations are prominent in the chemistry and engineering fields. Graphing calculators are the most complex of the types of calculators and often feature large displays to plot graphs and calculate multiple variables.