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Despite the abundance of free graphing software, Texas Instruments' monopoly and the continued demand for its use in standardized testing have kept the cost and design of graphing calculators largely unchanged for decades.

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Additional insights we found via Mental Floss

  1. First allowed in standardized tests in 1994, graphing calculators like the TI-83 have cost about $100 since the 1990s, though inflation has meant their adjusted cost has decreased over time.

  2. TI has argued that adding common device features, such as Wi-Fi or a camera, would detract from a graphing calculator's value by preventing its use in assessment environments, such as those managed by the College Board.

  3. As of 2023, Texas Instruments claims that 25 million students use TI calculators globally and that more than 90 million graphing calculators have been sold since 1990.

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