Features of approved calculators and features that are not permitted

Features of approved calculators

In addition to the features of a basic (four operation) calculator, a scientific calculator typically includes the following:

• fraction keys (for fraction arithmetic)

• a percentage key

• a π key

• memory access keys

• an EXP key and a sign change (+/-) key

• square (x²) and square root (√) keys

• logarithm and exponential keys (base 10 and base e)

• a power key (a^x, x^y or similar)

• trigonometrical function keys with an INVERSE key for the inverse functions

• a capacity to work in both degree and radian mode

• a reciprocal key (1/x)

• permutation and/or combination keys (ⁿP_r , ⁿC_r)

• cube and/or cube root keys

• parentheses keys

• statistical operations such as mean and standard deviation

• metric or currency conversion.

Features that are NOT permitted include:

• programmable (any calculator that can have a sequence of operations stored and then executed automatically is considered programmable and hence not allowed)

• capable of storing alphanumeric data input by a user (this does not exclude calculators with memories that are used to store intermediate numerical results obtained during calculations and required later)

• capable of storing, manipulating or graphing functions entered in symbolic form (this includes calculators with a graphic display capacity)

• capable of performing ‘hard-wired’ numerical routines for operations such as differentiation and definite integration, and the solution of equations

• capable of performing ‘hard-wired’ symbolic manipulations such as addition of algebraic expressions, binomial expansion and symbolic differentiation.