Smartphones are extremely smart, moreover with the varying apps that you can install on the device but, for educational and commercial purposes, a calculator is still the main tool to help us work with convenience. Depending on the type of application, your choice of calculator will also be different such as Casio FX-CG500 Vs FX-CP400 that are ideal for working on complex functions. These graphing calculators are very similar but they are not the same so let’s see below about which will be your better choice.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- What are the Calculator Types
- What are Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400
- How are the Design of Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400
- How are the CAS on Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400
- How are the Graphing on Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400
- How are the 3D Graphing on Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400
- What else Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400 can offer
- Casio FX-CG500 Vs FX-CP400
Calculator Types
No matter what you are going to study in higher education, at some point we are all going to use some type of calculator, in the class or during an exam. This is a very traditional yet advanced equipment to help with calculation but there are various types of calculators in which they are ideally designed for different main applications or types of problems. The basic calculator is useful for budgeting but if you are working on complex math problems, they are not going to be as helpful.
This type of calculator is also known as a 4-function one and as the name suggests, this is only useful for the simple arithmetic which includes addition, subtraction, and multiplication or division. It is what many of us use at home when calculating bills or making a budget and just working with simple math problems that may take too much time if just done with memory. Most people will be familiar with it as there are no complex learning curves to remember.
For older kids, scientific calculators are what parents have to buy because it is impossible to graduate middle or high school without one as it is what is used by students when taking algebra, trigonometry, or geometry. Options like those from Texas Instrument such as TI 36X Pro Vs TI 84 are very popular but there are also plenty of other models or brands to consider. The higher end option is called a graphic calculator and this is very common for college students.
It is a scientific calculator as well but in general is more capable at performing many complex functions including plotting graphs and completing logarithms. You can easily tell them apart based on the screen because to show the graph they need to be wide enough too. They can be just black and white but the more expensive options can have the color display too. The keypad layout can be slightly different from each model or brand.
| Casio FX-CG500 | FX-CP400 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 11.14 x 7.21 x 2.13 inches | 11.14 x 7.2 x 2.13 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 1.15 pounds | 11.1 ounces |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
For the accounting students or people who are working in the financial field like financial advisors or realtors there are calculators made specifically with financial values such as mortgage payments, interest rates, and cash flows. It is an extremely useful tool to have because in general you can get to the result in a much faster way. In addition, in the commercial section there is a printing calculator which instantly gives you the history of number input on paper; very useful for people working and dealing with cash.
About Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400
There are lots of useful tools made to help us, some on a daily basis as well like computers but it is best to go for the one that is made for the type of application you will be working on. For those who are currently studying and need a tool for their lecture, class, or exams, it is probably wise to see what your teacher is using or ask them which calculator to buy since it is more convenient. For exams we need to check the list of what’s allowed and not.
When it comes to graphing calculators, there are only two brands that are dominating the market and they are Texas Instruments and Casio. These two are extremely popular and the reason why we also advise getting famous models is because it will be easier to find the solution when you face some difficulties later as chances other people have met the same issues or ask the same questions before. If you are more familiar with Casio’s interface, this Japanese brand is very reliable.
What can be confusing is that companies tend to release lots of similar models such as Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400 that are almost like another version of each other. The CG500 as the name suggests is a newer variant so if you can find the latter then this calculator will be just the same but not exactly identical too. The CP400 was already around since 2013 so it is not surprising to finally see a new version which is launched 4 years after in 2017.
They are identical calculators with the same set of capabilities and what set the two apart is only the fact that CG500 is not featured with the QWERTY keyboard which means this a SAT and College Board test suitable. In general Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400 are among Casio’s most capable graphing calculators with abilities to 3D graph and computer algebra systems. Another thing to notice is somehow the newer CG500 is not built as good as the older variant since many users see the downgrade in material.
Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400 Design
Before getting into what Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400 can offer, first let’s see the units and as you notice, they are exactly the same. They are almost like modern smartphones but with the physical buttons and a hard cover to protect the surface. These calculators come with touch-sensitive screens and with the stylus too. The display is measured at 4.8 inches so it is quite huge to operate with your stylus and to graph while the overall body is made of regular plastic.
The screen quality is listed to be the same but in practice it is not giving off the same experience because you can notice the CG500 being less responsive to inputs, especially if moving from the CP400. The calculations are not different as they are similar fast and the rest of the specs are the same. Both are using removable batteries and you need 4 AAA to run the calculator. The layout of the keypad is the same and they feel the same too.
Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400 CAS
Moving further, let’s see what the Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400 can offer starting from the most important feature itself or the Computer Algebra System which allows you to perform calculation and algebra problems that usually is only done by hand to be able to do on the calculator, such as factor expressions evaluate indefinite integrals. While it makes the job easier, there are things to consider as well since it is not perfect because it can’t do some trig identity operations which other calculators like TI-Nspire CX II CAS can do.
Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400 Graphing
On the graphing feature, just like many similar graphing calculators these two are very strong in this area. The interface is very easy to understand so users just have to enter the equations in a list then press the graph; your calculator will begin drawing the lines quickly. The screen is large so it is convenient to see and the best part is we can edit all of the equations while interacting with the graph. There are small icons on the bottom of this screen to full-size the view that you want.
While the screen is large, it is still difficult to fit everything together and in default mode, the equation list and the graph will be squished together into the same area and this makes the interface a little bit difficult to use as it is too narrow.
Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400 3D Graphing
Both Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400 are also coming with 3D graphing features but this is the same as their 2D mode with the list of equations at the top and graphs at the bottom. The result from this 3D generation is good but it seems the processor is not as reliable if you are aiming for a fast-paced operation. We don’t see meaningful differences between the two in terms of performance but some people seem to notice that CG500 is being unresponsive and laggy.
Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400 Features
On the additional features, there are plenty to discover in these calculators but we will only mention the most interesting one which is the periodic table itself since this feature is taking the advantage of their large screen very effectively. You can split the screen on these calculators to see the individual elements while scrolling it. We also love the sample image that shows the material feature such as a galaxy that used to describe hydrogen or radioactive tank to describe Hassium.
Casio FX-CG500 Vs FX-CP400
Both Casio FX-CG500 and FX-CP400 are good options for everyone who is currently looking for a graphing calculator. They are very similar but not the same so it is wise to decide the option based on your needs. The prominent difference between the two is only because the FX-CP400 comes with a QWERTY keyboard which makes it not allowed for CAT and other College Board Test but, it seems that CG500 also doesn’t have the same component quality as the older calculator.
Conclusion
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You can go amazing with any of these calculators because they carry the same abilities. If you will be using them for exams, CG500 is the option to go for as it is what’s allowed for tests but, if QWERTY calculator is not an issue then CP400 will have the more responsive screen.