Texas Instruments TI30XA Scientific Calculator

• Adds, subtracts, multiplies, and divides fractions entered in traditional numerator/denominator format
• Performs trigonometric functions, logarithms, roots, powers, reciprocals, and factorials
• Polar/rectangular conversions
• 1-variable statistics include results for mean and standard deviation
• Battery powered; slide case included

Amazon.com Product Description:
Once you get to a certain level of math classes, a regular old calculator just isn't good enough anymore--you need a high-functioning calculator that can perform algebraic, trigonometric, and statistical problems in addition to general mathematical tasks. The Texas Instruments TI-30XA scientific calculator can do this for you. It is extremely handy when it comes to figuring tricky fractions. It can add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions when entered in a traditional numerator/denominator format. This calculator can also do a variety of conversions, from fractions to decimals, degrees to radians to grads, DMS to decimal to degrees, and polar to rectangular. The display screen holds up to 10 digits. For high school or college students tackling advanced math, this is a great tool (and a thoughtful back-to-school gift), and with more professors allowing the use of calculators during classes and exams, it's a necessary one. Easy to use and easy to slip into a backpack, the TI-30XA will soon become indispensable for both the serious and the striving math student. --Dana Van Nest

Horrible:
i cannot use it its too confusing. im used to the casio calculators. not recommended.

Few drawbacks...:
I gave it 5 because my girflriend loves it. It is hers. Now, down to brass tacks. Every review I read on Amazon leaves out or merely casually mentions what I need to know. So, batteries. NO, it does not expain how to change them in EVERY manual. At least it does not in this one. It only sayes that the batteries should last a lifetime. Okay, to change the batteries you need to remove all 6 very small philips-head screws from the back of the case,(I recommend a set of jewler's screw drivers) and pry it open. The two button cells are located between the display and what would be the "top" of the case as you would hold it ot operate it. In this case they were GPA76. I substituted LR44 (laser pointer batteries) bcause they are basically the same battery, though some may argue the LR44 has marginally higher capacity due to it's marginal incress in thickness. I found the batteries here died due to shelf life. (After three years, alcaline batteries tend to die and or leak. A single lithium button cells such as the high-capaicty CR2032 is a good idea due to the 10 year shelf life.) One was still usable but I replaced both of them. One had corroded, causing the lack of current flow, so I had to scrape the corrocsion off the one contact - look out for that and you should proobably test the unit before closing the case. As for the functionality, I'd say it is an excellent scientific calcualtor. Large number of digits and good ranges and coversions. Not bad for the price. Personally I use one that hase electrical units such as inductance and capacitance, but hey, for normal scientific use (and you are not designing a space station or torsion field generatior) it seems quite good. AOS, good key layout, and key relief. Rapidly entering calcualtions is a snap. I actually like this one better than mine though I cannot easily use it for my research I'd say it could in most cases due the job for someone into college. The cons: No instructions on battery replacement (at least in this one's manual) and it is very inexpensively made (hey, they need to make a profit after all!) Be careful repacing the batteries because if you touch it in the wrong places, a key or two - or even display segments can be dmaged. I will say it is not as touchy about that as some LCD devices I have serviced or modified in my time. Overall, for the price an excellent choice. I just wish they had been clear about replacing batteries, indeed I wish SOMEONE had mentioned it in detail. That is why I did so.

Calculator does it's job:
There's nothing much to say but if you need a calculator that is less scientific but with some good functions (including trigonomic functions) then this is the calculator for you. It's cheap and functions perfectly without failure.

Amazing Calculator.:
I'm a college engineering student, so math is as common to me as breathing, and a calculator is almost part of my wardrobe. I bought the TI-30XA back in high school for a mere $10 on discount, and have been using it ever since. I love my TI30. It's reliable, easy to use, actually has features that some GRAPHING calcs don't have (DMS to DD conversion, for example)--or at least don't have in an easy-to-find place--is light, and of course inexpensive. I think I have changed the batteries once in all those years, and that calc has never missed a beat. The cons are, of course, inherent to any scientific calculator. With a single-line screen, it cannot do multiple part equations, faciliating the use of a pen and paper to write down the answers to each part (although it does have parentheses, which helps). And, of course, it doesn't display graphs. However, I have taken pre-calc and Calculus I, II, III, as well as advanced physics and several engineering classes, and never bothered to buy a graphing calc. The little TI-30 has served me just fine. In those rare ocassions where I need to see a graph displayed, and can't figure it out on my own, my computer does the job. I would highly recommend this calculator. Texas Instruments simply makes the best, and the low cost, high reliability, and ease of use of this model make it a winner in all categories. Even if it doesn't serve all your needs, its cost makes it an easy buy just to have on hand. You could even use it in the store to do price comparison. All in all, it's a great machine.

1st one faulty, 2nd one ok:
The original calculator I received became faulty within 1 week of use. CambridgeWorld sent me a new one to replace it in 2 weeks.