Texas Instruments TI-86 Graphing Calculator Review

The TI-86 graphing calculator is an excellent calculator for math and science students as well as  professionals.

The key features of the TI-86 include the following:

• A memory of 128K RAM, 96K which is available for the user
• Calculus abilities such as integration, minimums, maximums, derivatives, roots and arcs
• Data exploration of lists with up to 6,000 elements, and matrices up to 80 x 80
• Ability to evaluate graphs as in the TI-83 format for tables
• Language programming abilities, in addition the usual programming capabilities, includes the Z80 assembly language programming
• Linking to TI-85s, TI-86s, CBL 2s, CBRs, CBLs and personal computers, with the Input/Output port
• High contrast display that makes it easy to read the 8 lines of 21 characters on the 64 x 128 pixel screen (with 2 levels of menus)
• Tables display numeric output for polar, parametric, function and differential equation modes
• Interactive improvements for keyboard entries. Pick a thick line graph, line graph, better shading plus more. Ability to submit values at specific prompts during tracing and math formulas
• You can look at more than one list at a time with the enhanced stat/list editor. Then attach your formulas to a list to receive an automatic computation

An excellent graphing calculator for science and math students, at an affordable price, the TI-86 has been discontinued by Texas Instruments, but can still be purchased used online for around $25.