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Graphing calculators often mark someone’s entry into upper level math. They’re useful enough that most consider them a necessity. But they’ve become more difficult to judge over time. However, smartphones are starting to make those decisions easier.
Apps change how people relate to graphing calculators by recreating them on a new platform. In this article we’ll further simplify things by narrowing the choices down. We’ll judge graphing calculator apps by power, ease of use, price and cross platform support.
7. Handyman Calculator
Handyman Calculator is a very specialized app. It’s either going to be the perfect fit, or something people should pass on. The reason comes from the app’s main purpose. It’s not trying to simulate graphing calculators.
Instead, Handyman Calculator’s developers crafted it around specialized functionality. The app focuses on math typically used by handymen. This term is somewhat vague. It can refer to home repair, building extensions, deck construction and similar tasks.
It’s the best graphing calculator app for someone beginning one of those projects. But it’s also a fantastic example of real world applications for advanced math.
Handyman Calculator is available on Google Play for free.
6. Graphing Calculator + Math, Algebra & Calculus
Graphing Calculator + Math is one of the best graphing calculator app choices for teachers. Standard graphing calculators are utilitarian. They’re meant to fit into every possible situation involving math.
But Graphing Calculator + Math uses a smartphone’s functionality to push past that idea. Instead, it’s heavily focused on helping people who might not have much experience with advanced math. Even the graphic design should spark mamories in graduates. The apps graphing output uses textures reminiscent of school graph paper.
Graphing Calculator + Math is available for free on Google Play.
5. Free Graphing Calculator
Sometimes the best graphing calculator app is the most readily available. Free Graphing Calculator does exactly what the name suggests. It offers a barebones, but functional, free graphing calculator.
That might not sound like the biggest endorsement at first. But something becomes clear as one examines the options. Most graphing calculator apps attempt to bring something new and innovative to the table. But this also brings a learning curve.
Free Graphing Calculator is simple. But sometimes simple is exactly what one is looking for. It’s among the best apps for people who want to quickly download an app and get to work.
Free Graphing Calculator is available on Apple’s App Store for free.
4. Calc Pro HD – iPad Calculator
The most surprising thing about Calc Pro HD – iPad Calculator is how little competition it has. There’s certainly no lack of graphing calculators on iOS. But there’s surprisingly few which really make use of an iPad’s larger screen.
Calc Pro HD takes full advantage of an iPad’s larger size. The biggest advantage found from doing so comes from accessibility. There’s no need for special formatting or shortcuts to access functions. Instead, the iPad’s larger screen can provide one with everything they need. The app is a good match for people who find themselves frustrated by a smartphone’s small screen.
The base app is free on Apple’s App Store. However, this is only the basic edition. Unlocking graphing ability requires a $0.99 in-app purchase.
3. AlmostTI
Sometimes the best graphing calculator app is one which perfectly replicates hardware. AlmostTI takes something of a hybrid approach to graphing calculator app design. In many ways one can see it as a bridge between the old and new paradigm for calculator use.
The reason for this is that AlmostTI actually is a TI graphing calculator. Or, rather, it’s a perfect simulation of the TI’s hardware. The emulation is so perfect that it’s able to run the same software as a standard TI graphing calculator.
This makes it the perfect app for people who want to transition from a TI to smartphone. It’s less well suited to newcomers though due to one major legal restriction. The app doesn’t come with a license for Texas Instrument’s bios code. One needs to manually copy the software from a TI calculator into the app before it’s operable.
AlmostTI is available on Google’s Play Store for $1.99.
2. Tydlig
One can best understand Tydlig by changing notions about what it’s intent is. It’s not trying to create a slightly better graphing calculator within a software based framework. Instead, it creates a full math centered workspace. One might think of it as somewhat analogous to a PC’s desktop.
Tydlig gives users the ability to really move their work around and categorize it. A student with several sheets of paper might shuffle them around to best visualize his work. And he might also put labels and sticky notes on certain areas to help organize things.
A similar principle forms the underlying foundation of Tydlig. Simulated number keys sit within the overall workspace. Labels and shaded text help prompt one’s memory with visual cues.
And during the process of using it the app will help solve problems in real-time. All of this makes it a good choice for people who want to try something both powerful and unique.
Tydlig is available on Apple’s App Store for $1.99.
1. WolframAlpha
Teachers often tell students that the entire world is made of numbers and equations. Nothing makes this as clear as WolframAlpha. It seamlessly integrates multiple forms of data analysis. One might think of it as a researcher’s version of an office suite.
WolframAlpha’s base functionality alone would earn it top ranking among graphing calculator apps. Everything from 3D graph plotting to data storage and retrieval is best of class. But it’s WolframAlpha’s computational knowledge engine that really sets it apart from competitors.
And finally, all of this is tied together with a powerful but easy to use programming language. This combination makes WolframAlpha easy to use in almost any study or profession related to mathematics. For example, one might use any of the calculator apps to analyze data from a study.
But only WolframAlpha is really suited to also run simulations of new experimental ideas based on those results. Finally, the fact that it’s available on both iOS and Android pushes it even further up in the overall ranking.
WolframAlpha is available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play for $2.99.
Summing Up
On an objective level, all of these are solid options for best graphing calculator app. They all present very different ways of relating to the same general equations. But one needs to determine which of them is the best for his own individual needs.
This is also why readers should share their own experiences with the best graphing calculator app options. Discussing people’s real life experiences helps others better recognize their own app preferences.
Graphing Calculator App Mac
Use Calculator to perform basic, advanced, or programmer calculations. If your Mac has a Touch Bar, you can easily do quick calculations—without even moving the pointer.
Tip: To learn a key’s function, hold the pointer over the key to see its help tag.
Change the calculator
In the Calculator app on your Mac, choose an option from the View menu:
Basic: Perform simple arithmetic operations.
Scientific: Use memory functions and perform advanced calculations involving fractions, powers, roots, exponents, logarithms, trigonometry, and more.
Programmer: Perform binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal calculations, including bitwise operations. You can also view the ASCII and Unicode characters represented by the current value.
Convert values
In the Calculator app on your Mac, enter the original value, choose Convert in the menu bar, then choose a category, such as Temperature or Currency.
Note: You must be connected to the internet to get the most recent currency conversion rate.
Round results
In the Calculator app on your Mac, choose View > Decimal Places, then choose the number of decimal places to display. Calculator stores the full value and displays the rounded value. If the displayed value shows fewer decimal places than you specified, the undisplayed decimal places are zeros.
Enter complex equations using Reverse Polish Notation (RPN)
In the Calculator app on your Mac, choose View > RPN Mode.
The stack is shown in Calculator’s display, the Equal Sign key (=) becomes the Enter key, and four keys appear for manipulating numbers on the stack.
Do any of the following:
Swap the bottom two numbers on the stack: Click the Exchange Registers key .
Move the most recently entered number up or down on the stack: Click the Roll Up key or Roll Down key .
Remove the bottom number from the stack: Click the Drop key.
Correct unexpected results
In the Calculator app on your Mac, do any of the following:
Repeat the calculation, keeping in mind that Calculator uses the fundamental order of operations to evaluate expressions. For example, multiplication operations are completed before addition and subtraction.
If the programmer calculator displays numbers in an unexpected format, change to octal, decimal, or hexadecimal format: click the 8, 10, or 16 key, respectively, under the calculator’s display. Or use the basic or scientific calculator.
If the result contains no decimal points:
Choose View > Basic or View > Scientific, because the programmer calculator truncates all digits after the decimal point. For example, if you enter 99 / 10 =, the result is 9. Use the basic or scientific calculator to get more precise results.
Choose View > Decimal Places (in any calculator), because the number of decimal places may be set incorrectly and the calculator rounds the result. For example, if decimal places is set to zero and you enter 99 / 10 =, the result is 10.
If you’re not sure you entered the calculation correctly, use the Paper Tape (choose Window > Show Paper Tape) to review what you entered.
If you prefer to display a comma separator, choose View > Show Thousands Separators to display the comma in larger numbers.
Use keyboard shortcuts
In the Calculator app on your Mac, use keyboard shortcuts to quickly enter calculations; the shortcuts vary based on the type of calculator you’re using.
All calculator types
Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
Clear | Esc C key |
Clear All | Option-Esc |
Negate the displayed value | Option-Minus Sign (–) |
Percent | Percent Sign (%) |
Divide | Forward Slash (/) |
Multiply | Asterisk (*) |
Subtract | Minus Sign (–) |
Add | Plus Sign (+) |
Equal | Equal Sign (=) |
Remove the most recently entered digit or letter | Delete key |
Scientific calculator
Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
Raise the displayed value to the power of the next value entered | Caret (^) |
Calculate the natural logarithm of the displayed value | E key |
Calculate the factorial of the displayed value | Exclamation Point (!) |
Exponential notation | Shift-E |
RPN Mode
Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
Swap the bottom two numbers on the stack | Command-E |
Move the most recently entered number up on the stack | Command-Up Arrow |
Move the most recently entered number down on the stack | Command-Down Arrow |
Remove the bottom number from the stack | Command-Delete |
To show a running list of your calculations, choose Window > Show Paper Tape.
Mac Graphics App
To perform advanced calculations involving equations and graphs, use the Grapher app. See the Grapher User Guide.