How to identify Calculator is Programmable or Non-Programmable Calculator ?

By | October 27, 2016
151 Comments

Some competitive examinations allow the candidates for the use of a calculator but may permit to use the only calculator of non-programmable type.

Calculators that are NOT programmable:

This is what a non-programmable calculator looks like. non-programmable calculator example

List of non-programmable calculators of some famous brands like Casio, Sharp, Texas Instruments, Hewlett-Packard.

list of non-programmable calculators from brands cisco, sharp, hp, texas instruments.

Calculators that are programmable:

Programmable calculators can automatically carry out a sequence of operations under control of a stored program, much like a computer.

programmable calculator example

Examples of programmable calculators are shown in the picture. This calculator runs on a Computer Algebra System (CAS). A CAS helps to make certain complicated algebraic functions automatic and less tedious. As you can see, these calculators also have graphing capabilities. A calculator with graphing capabilities is most likely to be programmable. The easy way to tell if the calculator has graphing capabilities is by looking at the larger screen than would be found on a scientific calculator.

Features of Programmable calculator:

  1. These calculators are capable of storing text or alphanumeric data input by a user.
  2. These calculators are capable of storing, manipulating or graphing functions entered in the symbolic form.
  3. These programmable calculators are capable of performing operations such as differentiation, definite integration, algebraic expressions, binomial expansion, symbolic differentiation and the solution to a system of equations.
  4. These calculators are also capable of external communication or Internet connectivity.
The main difference between a programmable and non-programmable calculator is there is no function button on the non-programmable calculator. Another difference that can be noticed on non-programmable calculators have no matrix or vector functions.

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151 thoughts on “How to identify Calculator is Programmable or Non-Programmable Calculator ?”

    1. Madhusudan Gupta

      No, It is Scientific Calculator. Programmable Calculators price range above INR 5k. Regards

      Reply ↓
  2. Roma

    Thank God for an article like this when you have a math exam tomorrow.

    Reply ↓
  3. Madhusudan Gupta

    Right Vinodh. A nice work, with much research. But what I understand, the Programmable Calculators (PC) that you have described herein, infact are calculators with built-in functions. These calculators can sure take text inputs as formula entry for using a built-in function. The Programmable Calculators, in my opinion, are capable of executing set of instructions for calculating/ computing based on mathematical and logical repetitive alogarithms which, in some cases, can also use built in functions of the machine. These set of instructions entered in the PC are coded in basic type environment or similar languages. The programming instruction may include simple formula translation techniques, Logical If statement and Do Loop statements. Casio PCs are Suffixed with P after their model number. eg. FX 502P, FX 5880P etc. Regards

    Reply ↓
  6. Ira Garcia

    Is my casio fx-991EX a programmable calculator sir? Im taking my board licensure exam for professional teachers this september and i bought fx-991EX. We are only allowed to use non-proggramable calculator sir. Do you think I can use it on my exam sir?

    Reply ↓
  7. Felicia Hawkins

    This is a very helpful and well written article. Thank you.

    Reply ↓
  10. Ditto

    Hello, got an exam in a few days need help with identifying if my calculator is programmable or not. It’s a Sharp EL-W535HT

    Reply ↓
  11. kheevar

    Please guys tell me is Casio fx 991 ex classwiz a programmable calculator?

    Reply ↓
  19. Joseph Jackson

    TI-36x Pro Engineering/scientific Calculator is a non-programmable calculator?

    Reply ↓
  31. DominiqueWaller

    Is the Texas Instrument TI-84 Plus a programmable or non-programmable calculator? I have a mid-term coming up and I really need to know.

    Reply ↓
  38. maine

    Hello! I would like to ask if my calculator CASIO MS-120BM a non-programmable?

    Reply ↓
  40. Mary Jane

    Hello sir . Is Canon F-789SGA a non-programmable calculator ? Thank you sir

    Reply ↓
  42. SAM

    Hi. First of all, thank you for your help.
    Is Texas Instrument BA II Plus Financial calculator is programmable?
    Thank you

    Reply ↓
  50. Imogen Johnson

    Have a stats exam Monday- is a casino fx 9860G AU PLUS a programmable calculator?
    Cheers

    Reply ↓
  51. Pulkit

    Casio fx 991 es plus have vector and matrix functions and still it is non programmable calculator.

    Reply ↓
    1. Vinodh Reddy Chennu Post author

      Hi Pulkit,
      Having Vector and matrix functions doesn’t mean that it is a programmable calculator.

      Programming calculator has graphing capabilities.

      Reply ↓
  56. maine

    Is JW-200TW 12Digits a non-programmable calculator? Is it allowed in the CPA Board Exam?

    Reply ↓
    1. Walter

      ti 84 CE, ti 89 titanium ti-nspire cx or ti-nspire cx cas (these are my preferences at least)

      Reply ↓
  62. Paul

    Hi Vinod,

    I note on your list above that the casio fx-83WA is non-programmable. How about the Casio Fx-83WAB?

    Reply ↓
  64. Walter

    just out of curiosity are there any non-graphing calculators that are programmable?

    Reply ↓
  67. Josephine

    thanks for this article. I can use my casio fx-991ES calculator this coming LET. I thought this is a programmable one

    Reply ↓
  69. Rajit Bansal

    Hi , can u recommend me a cheap non-programmable calculator which can perform matrix operations using r1,r2,r3 for rows?

    Reply ↓
  70. Anela

    What is the difference between financial and programmable calculator?

    Reply ↓
  71. Cherdy

    Hi. Thanks for the info above.
    May I ask if my Canon F-7156S and F-718SGA a non-programmable calculator?
    Thank you for answering.

    Reply ↓
  72. Najih ett

    Is Casio fx-991ES Plus with 417 functions a scientific calculator

    Reply ↓
  74. Casey Marshall

    Is Casio fx-300ES PLUS a non-programmable or programmable calculator?

    Reply ↓
  75. ainah engg

    hello sir ,i am an engineering student, i just want to know if texas instrument ti36x pro allowed in my future board licensure exam ? coz, i want to spend my time with a non programmable calculator that will be allowed in my future engineering exams. follow up , which do you think is better , 115 es or ti36x pro ?thank you.

    Reply ↓
  76. evans

    Hello please is Hp39gs a programable calculator? I want one that can do survey calculations thanks.

    Reply ↓

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