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We recommend the Sharp EL-510 calculator for all science courses.
We recommend the Sharp EL-510 calculator for all science courses.
The Science Department recommends the Sharp EL-510 calculator for all science courses.
This calculator:
is currently required for all math tests. (The science department does not have this requirement)
has all the required functions for all science courses.
is used by most Science teachers
is one of the most inexpensive calculators available.
The use of a single calculator by all members of the class:
allows teachers to instruct students on the correct usage of the calculator.
reduces the time required to do this.
allows easy use of borrowed calculators when forgotten.
allows teachers to fix issues with calculators.
Common Mistakes and Problems using calculators:
Common Mistakes and Problems using calculators:
Using Scientific Notation (grade 9 -12)
Using Scientific Notation (grade 9 -12)
There are 3 or 4 different keys used for entering scientific notation into a calculator depending on brand. (EXP, EE, x10x) which are often located in different places.
There are several keys which students often find that "work" in simple cases, but are NOT correct. They include ^, yx, 10x. Their use will cause incorrect answers with higher level calculations. (or extra keystrokes with brackets.)
For example: The speed of light of 3 x 108 m/s should be entered into the calculator as follows: 3 EXP 8
Students may be instructed on the use of the FSE key to change answers to scientific notation or for metric prefixes.
Trigonometry and Using Degrees or Radians (grade 10-12)
Trigonometry and Using Degrees or Radians (grade 10-12)
Often students find themselves using radians instead of degrees for science calculations. Radians are almost never used in high school science. This calculator has an easy to find DRG button to switch modes. (Other calculators have several key presses hidden after pressing a "mode" or "setup" key).
This calculator has a correct algebraic display. To find the sine of 30°, press SIN, then 30 which displays as SIN30.
Some other calculators do not have a algebraic display and may require students to enter 30, then SIN for the same calculation. (This is exactly the opposite of what students in grade 10 science studying optics would be told to do on their Sharp EL510 calculators.)
Rounding of Values in Science
Rounding of Values in Science
Communication in science includes understanding that significant figures (that is, the number of digits written) communicates a level confidence (or level of certainty) in an answer.
For example, in a calculation of a length,
writing 1.25 cm shows a certainty to a half millimetre,
whereas a student writing 1.248 cm expresses a certainty in an answer which cannot be verified by measuring on a ruler.
On the other hand, a student writing 1 cm instead may suggest poor initial data or the use of estimations.
The use of exact values (such as fractions or repeated decimals) is frowned upon in Science.
The EL510 calculator does NOT have a fraction display. However, it can display fractions.
The TAB key could be used to express answers to a specific number of significant figures.
More likely, students get their calculators stuck in a mode by an accidental press of the TAB (or FSE) key and cannot return to a normal display.
What does the calculator not have?
What does the calculator not have?
It does not graph. Graphing calculators may be used in math classes. The math department has class sets of graphing calculators. Students may want to purchase one - but they cannot be used on tests in Science.
It does not do 2 dimensional statistics such as linear regression. It does include a statistics mode to do averages and standard deviation.
It does not do calculus.
It is not programmable.
It does not have built in functions such as the quadratic formula.
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