Hello,
I just bought the HP 50g, but I have not had time to look at it much
as teaching takes up so much of my time. Also I am not used to fancy
programmable graphing calculators!
I am presently using these two scientific calculators: a Texas
Instruments TI-30XS and a Casio fx-991ES. Both are non-programmable,
non-graphical fairly easy-to-use scientific calculators for algebra
and trigonometry.
I have read that the HP 50g has a steep learning curve, so to make
the transition from my TI-30XS & fx-991ES as painless as possible, I
would like (at first) to have the HP50g behave like an easy-to-use
scientific calculator for algebra and trigonometry.
1) Right out of the box, can I use the HP50g like an easy-to-use
scientific calculator for algebra and trigonometry?
2) I do not want to use RPN, will I find there are missing keys or
keys in weird places if I use Infix?
3) Will I find any other limitations if I use Infix instead of RPN?
4) Are there some things I can do to make the HP50g more user
friendly for a first time user needing algebra and trigonometry?
5) Will I have trouble trying to use the HP50g as a decent but more
basic scientific calculator as compared to my TI-30XS and Casio fx-
991ES?
6) Are all the usual scientific calculator keys easy to find and not
hidden? For example I've read the TI-89 Titanium does not even have a
1/X button!
7) I understand the programs for the HP50g use RPN, is there a way to
easily program the HP50g without RPN?
Much thanks indeed!
I just bought the HP 50g, but I have not had time to look at it much
as teaching takes up so much of my time. Also I am not used to fancy
programmable graphing calculators!
I am presently using these two scientific calculators: a Texas
Instruments TI-30XS and a Casio fx-991ES. Both are non-programmable,
non-graphical fairly easy-to-use scientific calculators for algebra
and trigonometry.
I have read that the HP 50g has a steep learning curve, so to make
the transition from my TI-30XS & fx-991ES as painless as possible, I
would like (at first) to have the HP50g behave like an easy-to-use
scientific calculator for algebra and trigonometry.
1) Right out of the box, can I use the HP50g like an easy-to-use
scientific calculator for algebra and trigonometry?
2) I do not want to use RPN, will I find there are missing keys or
keys in weird places if I use Infix?
3) Will I find any other limitations if I use Infix instead of RPN?
4) Are there some things I can do to make the HP50g more user
friendly for a first time user needing algebra and trigonometry?
5) Will I have trouble trying to use the HP50g as a decent but more
basic scientific calculator as compared to my TI-30XS and Casio fx-
991ES?
6) Are all the usual scientific calculator keys easy to find and not
hidden? For example I've read the TI-89 Titanium does not even have a
1/X button!
7) I understand the programs for the HP50g use RPN, is there a way to
easily program the HP50g without RPN?
Much thanks indeed!