Casio FX-115ES Advanced Scientific Calculator with ...

• 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.

Workhorse on the cheap...:
I love using this calculator. I used it for over 5 classes now. I have abused it so often I thought it would have died by now. Each time I take it out I am amazed how well it still works. My wife has a Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator. Often she will grab my Casio because it is so much easier to use. Also being its solar means no batteries to change, ever. If you want a great calculator for a very good price then this is the one for you!

OK for a basic scientific:
This is a low cost scientific calculator with all of the basic functions. The natural display is really nice and easy to enter complex functions. I was concerned about this calculator, because some of the functions on the unit do not produce answers. I tried to use the numeric differentiation function, for example. Try calculating the derivitive of the COS X at 3 degrees. The calculator gives you a "time out" error. I picked 3 degrees because I originally entered PI by mistake thinking that the calculator was in radians mode. In degrees mode, the calculator will not produce an answer for this problem. The calculator will give you an answer for -SIN 3 though, which is the derivitive of COS 3. Students, if you want this calculator to hash out integrals for you, it's not for that, it only calculates the numeric value of the integral with given limits BTW! The calculator really chugs on integrals, taking several seconds to produce an answer although it seems to produce answers from some pretty complex integrations. I was impressed with the integration more so than the differenciation...the integration works on some complicated functions. Impressive considering that this is a low cost calculator. I don't like the fact that some of the answers are given as fractions at times when it makes no sense for the answers to be represented as a fraction. You have to hit the S<->D button in order to convert many fractions and symbols to decimal values. There must be a way to change this default setup in the calculator, but damned if I can figure out how. The manual is totally lame. Half of the manual tells you how to open the sliding plastic cover and change the batteries. Unit has a lot of functions, but some of the calculations are slow. Basic calculations are fast. I still like HP calculators better even though HP sold out and discontinued all of their really heavy duty models...my HP 20s is twice the calculator this one is, but it cost more when I bought it over 10 years ago. HP now is just a calculator importer like Casio & TI. All HP is now junk from China too, although I purchased and am anxious to get a new HP 35s that just came out. I believe that I can trust the precision of the HP calcs more despite the fact that all of todays calcs are made in China. I still think that students should all be trained on RPN calculators as most nested operations are faster.

excellent value:
This scientific calculator provides all necessary tools for high school and university students including clear view, equation solutions, derivatives and provides a long battery life. Highly recommended

THE calculator for the PE Exam:
I had stupidly thought that since my preferred calculator is a TI-89 that I should use the TI model for the PE Exam. Ha! I'm glad someone told me about the Casio, because it is a far superior choice. Key differences between the two that make it amazing: A solve routine Responsive keys Clear display Might I also add, for the FE takers out there, that it derives and integrates? Yeah, the TI30X is basically a cheapy free calculator in comparison.

Seems like a nice Calculator, but....:
I haven't had time to explore this calculator, but it seems to have all the functions I need and is of decent quality-not bad for $20! The only place I find fault is in the documentation which are multi-folded "booklets" for a User Guide and Appendix. There are no tables of contents or Index in either "manual". They are essentially worthless and difficult to read, plus fragile. Fortunately, I was able to download the PDF versions and format them to 2 pages per 8.5 x 11" sheet for printing. This makes it a little less unwieldly and easier to read, albeit, lacking in usefull information. Users are on their own after that. Apparently there are no after market books specific to this calculator that I have found.