Editing Scientific calculator (section)

{{Short description|Calculator designed to calculate problems in science, engineering, and mathematics}}
{{refimprove|date=January 2015}}
[[File:Casio fx-991DE X.JPG|thumb|Casio fx-991DE X - a modern digital calculator from Casio with a [[dot matrix]] "Natural Textbook" [[LCD]]]]
[[Image:FX-77.JPG|thumb|upright|Casio fx-77, a [[solar-powered calculator|solar-powered]] digital calculator from the 1980s using a single-line [[LCD]]]]

A '''scientific calculator''' is an [[Electronics|electronic]] [[calculator]], either desktop or handheld, designed to perform calculations using basic ([[addition]], [[subtraction]], [[multiplication]], [[Division (mathematics)|division]]) and advanced ([[Trigonometric functions|trigonometric]], [[Hyperbolic functions|hyperbolic]], etc.) mathematical [[Operation (mathematics)|operations]] and [[Function (mathematics)|functions]]. They have completely replaced [[slide rule]]s as well as books of [[mathematical table]]s and are used in both educational and professional settings.

In some areas of study and professions scientific calculators have been replaced by [[graphing calculator]]s and [[financial calculator]]s which have the capabilities of a scientific calculator along with the capability to graph input data and [[Function (mathematics)|functions]], as well as by [[numerical computing]], [[computer algebra]], statistical, and [[spreadsheet]] software packages running on [[personal computer]]s. Both desktop and mobile [[software calculator]]s can also emulate many functions of a physical scientific calculator. Standalone scientific calculators remain popular in [[secondary education|secondary]] and [[tertiary education]] because computers and smartphones are often prohibited during exams to reduce the likelihood of cheating.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Crockett |first1=Zachary |title=Is the era of the $100+ graphing calculator coming to an end? |url=https://thehustle.co/graphing-calculators-expensive/ |website=The Hustle |access-date=19 February 2024 |date=22 September 2019}}</ref>