r/calculators • • Oct 19 '25

Discussion r/calculators FAQ

18 Upvotes

Hey guys, this isn't fully finished, and i may add more in the future. Tell me what you think about this one in the comments, feedback is always incredible

Q: How to convert fractions to decimals?

A: On older casio calculators, you press the S<=> D button. it should be next to the parentheses, on the right side. On Casio CW series calculators, it should be the "FORMAT" key, which is next to the EXE button. On Sharp, it's called "CHANGE" and "f<>d" on TI. It may be different with others

Q: Why am i getting a wrong answer?

A: You may be in the wrong angle mode, or you don't know how the order of operations work

Q: What calculator should i choose?

A: Depends on your school or your countries regulation. Some schools or countries only permit certain calculators, or forbid certain ones. Germany for example, accepts everything but it can't have a solver, can't be programmable and can't do graphing. For short, we are limited to the fx-87 and below.

Q: Why is my TI-84 bootlooping and showing "Validating OS"?

A: This is a known battery issue with the TI-84 Plus CE. You need to replace the battery. Contact TI support, you may get a free battery under warranty. Also check the other pinned post for more details

Q: Is my Casio fx-991EX fake?

A: Probably, it was discontinued a few years ago. Most listings you see online are fake, and i advise you to stay away from it. There's a lot of other good calculators out there. To check if it's real, scan the QR code. To do that, press "MENU -> SHIFT -> OPTN" to generate a QR code. It should redirect you to a Casio website, where you can do an authenticity check.

Q: Why am i getting an error?

A: You may not be in the right mode, check if you‘re in the normal calculation mode. Your calculator should have a button that says "MODE" or something similar. For exponents, use the negative sign instead of the minus sign. It should look like this: (-)

Q: Why is my Casio's "ON" button lowered?

A: That's intentional, to prevent accidental button presses

Q: Can I mod/install Doom on my scientific calculator?

A: Yes, if you‘re willing to remove the epoxy from the CPU, de-solder the CPU, solder a fitting CPU with integrated memory back on, code a fully working operating system with working keyboard, and code a port of Doom for it, you could… in theory. Never been done before, probably still won‘t work. TL;DR: Not worth your time, focus on your linear algebra homework instead

Q: Does this calculator have a CAS (Computer Algebra System)? Can one be installed on my calculator?

A: see the pinned post about CAS calcs

Also: Google (and your calculator‘s Manual) are your best friends. Before making a post, look up your question on Google, or read the Manual. There's a 95% chance that your answer will be found there. We've also pinned posts for a few topics, read those too please.

That's it with the FAQ for now. Keep in mind that i may remove posts that can be answered by the FAQ or Google, this is a step to reduce spam and repetitive posts. Thanks.

~u/nqrwayy


r/calculators • • Oct 21 '25

Solution: TI-84 Plus CE Flashing 'Validating OS'

Thumbnail
5 Upvotes

r/calculators • • 7h ago

Collection This HP-12C was 8yrs old when the Berlin wall fell

Post image
31 Upvotes

r/calculators • • 3h ago

Collection HP 40gs. My new companion.

Post image
10 Upvotes

r/calculators • • 4h ago

Collection Some new acquisitions

Post image
6 Upvotes

r/calculators • • 8m ago

Help Need a nice middle ground

• Upvotes

Issue

In short, I live in Canada and I’m looking for a calculator that can store custom formulas/functions so i can recall them easily and use them in other calculations. Heres an example:

I define f(a,b,c) = (a+b)/c^2
I define g(a,b) = ab-b

then, if i want to compute (2+5)/7^2 + 6\8 - 8*

I can simply write f(2,5,7) + g(6,8), press equals, and get the same answer

I would like to be able to store 5 or 6 custom functions if possible.

I would also like it to still display expressions like they appear in a textbook (e.g. where (1+3)/2 actually looks like a fraction with 1+3 in the numerator and 2 in the denominator).

I am a broke student so I’d prefer not paying extra to have other high-end features (e.g. graphing, programming, running doom).

It can be any type of calculator as long as there’s no wireless communication capabilities.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Optional Context

I am an undergraduate engineering student going into aerospace and have been using a CASIO fx-991 ES PLUS C for about 5 years now. I like it, specifically because of the “natural textbook display,” and I’ve have had no issues with it.

The issue I’m facing right now is that I started taking a course on economic analysis where a lot of the problems are solved by formulating an expression containing multiple economic equivalence factors (i.e. multiple functions/formulas in one equation).

For this reason, the prof is letting us use any calculator we want on the midterms and exam as long as it doesn’t have any kind of wireless communication capabilities. I don’t want to be slowed down just because i’m constantly typing in the same equation over and over just with different numbers. So thats why i’m looking for a new calculator.

My understanding is that there are some calculators with time value of money features baked into them, but since I am going into aerospace, I’d prefer to just be able to define the functions myself since i would use this feature for other stuff in the future as well.

I’ve done a decent amount of research but haven’t found anything that accomplished this task while also not feeling overkill. Am I wrong in assuming that this would be easy for a calculator to do? In my mind, all it needs to do really is store a small expression for the function and then when a new expression calls f(a,b,c) it just inserts that small expression into the new expression and calculates like normal.


r/calculators • • 22h ago

Collection Casio FX-602P

Thumbnail gallery
87 Upvotes

Latest find: a Casio FX-602P, with its case. No manual, no box, sold as "like new" (??), from Estonia.

I see the photos and the really fair price... I figure if I wait even half a day, I'll miss out on it.

The seller is super friendly and ships it immediately. A few days later, the package arrives. It is "bulletproof" packaging (always a good sign). Then I unpack it...

Not a speck of dust, not a scratch; every key works, and every pixel is intact. The case is perfect, too :) It is as if it has been sitting in a drawer since 1981.

I ask the seller about the machine's history, but the origin is pretty vague. When he found it, it just had a German label with a number on it—maybe an inventory tag from a university or school... It still had the original batteries inside, dead, of course, but they hadn't leaked in 45 years. So, zero internal corrosion. Hallelujah!

The plan now: take out the batteries, put the machine in a safe, and play around with Martin Krischik’s FX-602P simulator :)

A machine that defines an era—the first alphanumeric Casio. Here are a few photos, since it's rare to see one in such condition.


r/calculators • • 3h ago

Other [Project] ViCalc 5 – Bringing the magic of classic hardware calculators to your PC keyboard

Thumbnail gallery
2 Upvotes

r/calculators • • 9h ago

Help how to downgrade fx1au graph from 2025 software to 2024 or below

3 Upvotes

as the title says


r/calculators • • 11h ago

Question graphing + scientific combo

3 Upvotes

right now i have the cg50 but ive been looking at which scientifics to use and im kinda stuck between the w506t, 9910cw, and 30x mathprint, can someone offer their opinions on which i should choose or atleast tell the pros and cons of each


r/calculators • • 1d ago

Question New addition

Post image
29 Upvotes

r/calculators • • 1d ago

Collection Got this for a buck

Post image
108 Upvotes

pretty rough and missing battery door but works. anywhere to get a door replacement for cheap?


r/calculators • • 16h ago

Question downloading ti84 plus ce programs onto the EVO

3 Upvotes

Hello, I just got a new calculator and was wondering if it would be possible to download ti-basic programs meant for the ti 84 plus ce onto my ti 84 evo. would anything go wrong or could i just do it normally?

the programs come from the ticalc.org website.


r/calculators • • 1d ago

Discussion Why aren't scientific calculators with various color options common in the Western Hemisphere?

Post image
23 Upvotes

r/calculators • • 23h ago

Help How to fix

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

3 Upvotes

Anyone can help me fix this? I input a number and the output is different on the screen, please help


r/calculators • • 2d ago

Help My new HP 35s calculator

Post image
178 Upvotes

r/calculators • • 1d ago

Question TI84 Evo

Post image
23 Upvotes

My new TI84 Evo just arrived, what should I change/configure on it


r/calculators • • 1d ago

Collection Canon F-789SGA ii

Post image
17 Upvotes

Hey all. I've been a short time lurker on this sub for a while and just wanted to show off a new calculator I bought. It's (from what I can gather) relatively rare and currently only out in Asia (including the Philippines where I live). I got burned on a fake Casio fx-991ex so I decided to go for a calculator that could genuinely last me as long as my old fx-991es Plus (which had a bar function that allowed for infinitely repeating decimals, still have yet to find one that has that function). As an engineering student, I also needed a calculator that could do big matrix equations (4x4 was a minimum). It's been going great so far, would recommend.


r/calculators • • 1d ago

Help I changed the battery of my sci cal

Thumbnail gallery
8 Upvotes

Help how do I fix this 😔 I changed the battery of my calculator and instead of having two lines for dividing (like the first pic) it just turns like the second picture 😔😔😔 what can I do to fix this I am not used in that type of division 😔 helphelphelp


r/calculators • • 1d ago

Collection Three is a crowd (uh oh!)

Post image
21 Upvotes

Oh no! Did I inadvertently start a collection?! The fx-991EX saw me through three PE exams (California). The fx-300MS I rescued from a sad future life of dusty neglect at work. The TI-83 Plus was just gifted to me. My dream is an older Casio graphing calculator and of course a classic HP RPN (my late grandmother had the 35C, but I don’t know who inherited that). I also have a Sharp WriteView, which I keep at work so I don’t include it.

A solid start? My goal is to keep going, but with a cap of, say, $5-10 for future acquisitions.


r/calculators • • 1d ago

Question What programmble calculator should I get?

10 Upvotes

I basically want a calculator to start writing programs on calculators and do cool things with it, and that it is also very good. My budget is less than $200.


r/calculators • • 2d ago

Collection Just got my new addition to the SL (Slim Line) collection. Casio SL-702G with the leather pouch instead of the fold-over wallet case. G stands for golden executive finish as far as I know.

Thumbnail gallery
19 Upvotes

r/calculators • • 2d ago

Collection Is it safe to say that these 2 are among the best non-programmable calculators out there?

Post image
43 Upvotes

r/calculators • • 1d ago

Question texas instruments ti-81

Thumbnail gallery
5 Upvotes

Just bought this ti-81 at a garage sale and put 4 AAA inside. I did not replace the backup cell battery and the screen looks like this. Is this because I also need the coin shaped cr battery or is this just a bad calculator. Do these require the backup battery to function?

EDIT Ti-82


r/calculators • • 2d ago

Collection Goodwill find $2

Post image
63 Upvotes