Casio CFX-9850GB PLUS
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Casio CFX-9850GB PLUS is an upgraded version of the Casio CFX-9850G graphing calculator.
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[edit] Overview
The calculator weighs about 190 grams including batteries, and measures about 19.7mm x 83mm x 176mm. It is capable of performing a vast array of scientific calculations, including calculus, and supports graphing and programming, statistics and matrix operations, as well as communications. It is being promoted as a classroom calculator under Casio's "Support Classroom with Technology" initiative [1].
[edit] Appearance
The product is sold as a block-ish black model and as a sleeker curvier white model (WE version). However, the black version comes with a sturdy cover, which slides over the device to protect its keypads and screen when the device is not in use.
[edit] Power
The back of the device shows a slightly protruding battery case cover, which slides out to reveal the compartment for the four AAA alkaline batteries used for primary power, and a CR2032 lithium button cell used for memory backup when primary power is down or being changed. The device consumes power at the rate of 0.06W, and turns itself off automatically after about 6 minutes of time spent without any keypad activity. Battery life for the primary power cells ranges from 240 hours to 150 hours, depending on the kind of battery being used. Backup cells last up to about 2 years each.
[edit] Display
The screen's graphics resolution is 128 dots by 64 dots (the first row and column of dots are unusable in graphing), and its character resolution is 21 columns by 8 lines. The bottom line is reserved for function key menu tips, and the rest is available for the graphics and character display. The screen is capable of three colors: orange, blue and green. The overall contrast and the color gradient setting for each color can be changed in the CONT menu.
[edit] Memory
The calculator comes with 32 kilobytes of inbuilt memory. 28 variables and 28KB of user programs can be stored herein. This is flexibly divided among storage blocks for programs, statistics, matrices, lists, static and dynamic graphs and their associated settings, functions, recursions, equations, financial data, and variables (all of which are global). These can be cleared individually or completely in the MEM menu.
[edit] Communications
The device can link up via specialized cables to a computer (FA-122 interface unit and cables) or to another calculator (SB-62 cable) to transfer data, such as programs, equations, graphs etc. It can also connect to a Casio label printer (SB-62 cable). Transmission speed is stated as 9600 bps.
[edit] Software Library
The calculator comes with a software library, consisting of programs that perform complicated calculations and data processing. For example, operations on differential equations, digital caliper measurements, capacitor charge curves, figure rotations and Riemann sums. These are organized into six sub-libraries, five of them for mathematical computations, and one for scientific instrumentation.
[edit] Features
The CFX-9850GB PLUS has a number of advanced features in the areas of graphing and programming, including split-screening and dynamic graphing.
[edit] Graphing
Graphs can be drawn based on polynomial equations, with split-screen viewing of graphs as well as tables or zooms. Graphed areas can be shaded in customizable colors. The graph viewport can be resized and shifted (these settings can be saved for later retrieval), and points along the graph curves can be traced. Graph solver tools can also be used to find useful points, such as maxima/minima and intersection points. The calculator also has a special section for advanced conic section graphing. Dynamic graphing provides all the functionality of regular graphing, but allows the binding of a variable in the graph equation to time over a value range.
[edit] Specializations
Up to 36 lists can be stored and manipulated in various ways in the list manager. The lists can be also be used to feed data into inbuilt statistics operations, producing various statistical figures, performing regression analysis, and generating graphs like scatter and box and whisker plots, among others. Tables can be generated from functions, matrices can be created and operated upon, recursive series can be generated, and equations can be solved - both simultaneous and polynomial. A number of financial operations such as interest compounding and amortization are also provided.
[edit] Programming
The calculator's BASIC-like programming language enables the creation of complex programs and subroutines, which can utilize a lot of the other functionality of the calculator. For example, a program could capture keystrokes, or manipulate lists, or even draw graphs.