Product Description

Casio Adv. Scientific Calc

Product Details

• Color: Silver
• Brand: Casio
• Model: FX-115ES-S-IH
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.50" h x 6.00" w x 9.88" l, 2.00 pounds

Features

• 279 functions, including 40 metric conversions
• 2-line, 12-digit Natural Textbook display
• Solar Plus power with battery back-up
• Slide-off protective hard case
• Currently permitted on AP, SAT and PSAT/NMSQT

Amazon.com Product Description
The Casio FX-115ES Advanced Scientific Calculator features over 279 functions and provides its user with everything they need for most mathematical calculations. The calculator's functions include complex number calculations, matrix and vector calculations, statistics, and 40 metric conversions. Its standout feature is its 2-line natural textbook display that displays fractions, formulas, square roots and other expressions as they would in your textbook. It is extremely versatile, and can be used in courses ranging from basic pre-algebra to calculus, and also has applications in physics, engineering, biology and statistics.

What's in the Box
FX-115ES scientific calculator, slide-on hard case, instruction manual, and quick reference guide.

Customer Reviews

Use it to help you pass the P.E.
I bought this calculator's distant ancestor six or seven years ago in College and loved it ever since. The old model was the first calc that gave you graphing calculator editing capabilities in a small calc package and it was a steal for the $12 or $14 I paid for it then. This new generation is nothing short of a quantum leap forward. For the first time you can enter equations exactly as you would write them. The font switches to a smaller size, so you can review the whole equation at once. It also has a solver funtion that is intuitive and quick; I used it all the time on open channel flow problems, or any equation that would require more than mild rearranging of terms. This may be the only calc on the PE approved list that has this ability.

Other high points:
* excellent battery life and solar ability
* Table function

Minor quibbles:
* you may have to slow down the pace when keying in as it will miss keystrokes if you type too fast
* you have to hit Shift to get to 'X' (alpha) or Pi
* when editing an equation, very slow to cursor to where you want

First non-RPN calculator in years
I had an upcoming exam that specifically prohibited programmable calculators, so while I have quite the "stable" HP RPN machines, all of them were out. The FX-115ES was what I found as a substitute, and I'm quite impressed, especially for the price (which is $18 at Target, BTW). The machine works well and is quite feature-laden and easy to use -- I believe it is the most powerful non-programmable, non-graphing machine out there, and at a price where you can afford a few spares to spread around your home, office, car, etc. so that you don't have to worry about losing one.

I've had tons of calculators over time, with the Casio FX-4000P (back in the late '80s) being the first truly memorable one (my brother had an FX-7000G, the first graphing calculator). I switched to HPs in college, and I am still an RPN die-hard (I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the 30th anniversary HP-35s this summer!), but I can still appreciate a quality product such as this from Casio.

Helps avoid errors
I agree with the views of "Anonymous" about this calculator. Rather than repeat what he said, I would like to point out that an important feature of this calculator is fractional input. This is important when there are complicated numerators and denominator (something like (45+ 6 sin(pi/2))/(sq root(1.006)*15.0987). Using this mode, the display type is smaller and the entire complicated fraction can be viewed in natural format. Not having a single line of type scrolling off the screen helps avoid errors. Usually, an entire complicated expression fits on a screen.

This is the best scientific calculator I have ever used, and I own calculators by Casio, Sharp, TI, and HP. I do think that the "best" calculator of all is the TI-89.