What parents should know about the Casio fx-CG100

You might be getting questions from parents about the recently launched fx-CG100 graphic calculator and if they should buy one.

In this blog, we explore some of the key features and benefits that make our newest handset a worthwhile investment for A-level maths students.

It can boost confidence and understanding in year 12

Teachers know better than anyone how quickly students need to adapt to the demands of A-level maths.

What often makes the difference is giving them the right tools to tackle new topics with confidence. This is where an advanced calculator like the fx-CG100 can have a real impact.

Simon May, our Principal Technology Trainer, offered the example of factorising quadratics. This is likely to come up if you start the year with a refresher of what students covered at GCSE.

If you present an A-level class with a simple quadratic like x² – x – 2, for instance, they should be factorising that to (x – 2) (x + 1) without too much difficulty. But if they’re feeling rusty after the summer holidays, it’s easy for students to make simple mistakes and end up with something like (x + 2) (x – 1).

Graph and Table mode on the fx-CG100 offers a simple way to address these sorts of issues, by drawing both the original quadratic and the factorised version and comparing the graphs.

Matching graphs show that the factorised form is correct, while differing curves make it instantly clear to the student they’ve made a mistake. This prompts questions about where they’ve gone wrong and why, which strengthens understanding.

Simon also pointed out how dealing with these topics with the help of a graphic calculator can naturally lead into other, more complex concepts, such as transformations of functions.

“If you’re looking at a function like f(x – a), for example, students might assume the subtraction moves the graph to the left, whereas actually it’s taking it to the right,” he said.

“At the start of a new school year, the calculator can help you build on what students already know and slowly, naturally introduce new things that challenge and extend them. The graphing tools and other functionality are always there to help you take new approaches and reinforce understanding.”

It has advanced features for advanced maths

As you progress beyond GCSE refreshers and get into the bulk of the A-level maths syllabus, the range of ways in which the fx-CG100 can support learning and understanding only gets broader.

One of the strongest reasons for parents to invest in the calculator is that it offers all the functionality needed to not only perform calculations and check solutions at A-level, but approach problems in entirely new ways.

When you introduce calculus, for example, some students could find this a challenge because it’s a topic they’ve never encountered before.

On the fx-CG100, they will find tools that can help them unpack and analyse problems, such as templates for differentiation and integration, available in Catalog.

It’s also possible to turn on derivatives in Graph and Table mode. This means differential coefficients are displayed on both the Table tab and at the position of the trace pointer on the Graph tab.

The calculator does these operations for you in the background, which can be a big help when students need to work quickly in exams.

Simon noted that you could keep things simple to start with by asking students to draw the curve of x² and then estimate the gradient at a given point, based on its steepness.

“They could come up with some strange values, or you might have some bright spark noticing that the gradient at a certain point is twice the x value,” he added.

“Then, they could check the value in Graph and Table on the calculator, and start asking more questions, like, ‘What if I input x³‘? What’s the general rule here? It’s really powerful doing this graphically and it all feeds into broader understanding and connections.”

Extra benefits parents will appreciate

Beyond the technical applications and learning benefits outlined above, there are many other powerful reasons for parents to invest in the fx-CG100 as their child begins A-level maths.

• The large, full-colour display for graphing and other processes makes the handset particularly useful for visual learners.
• It’s permitted in all UK A-level maths exams.
• Consistency in key layout, user interface and menu structure enables an easier transition for students familiar with the ClassWiz scientific range.
• The fx-CG100 is designed for the UK, with apps set to UK curriculum requirements by default.
• It extends the capabilities of the fx-CG50 with new apps such as Inequality Solver and the combined Graph and Table mode.

There are lots of resources available on our website that illustrate the features and benefits of our newest calculator, including a dedicated fx-CG100 collection in our resources centre. You can also sign up for one of our forthcoming launch or transition webinars