Texas Instruments TI-81 Handheld Electronic Calculator
date: label: date made
content: ca 1991
name: label: maker
content: Texas Instruments
notes: label: Description
content: This is an example of the first graphing calculator sold by Texas Instruments. The TI-81 was introduced in 1990. The handheld electronic calculator has a blue plastic case with a sliding cover that can also serve as a stand. It has an array of forty-one rectangular plastic keys, many of which can take on three meanings. These include a wide number of arithmetic, trigonometric, statistical, and algebraic functions. Letters of the alphabet also can be represented. The calculator also has four arrow keys, plus a row of five keys immediately under the display that relate to graphing. In addition to performing a wide range of calculations, the calculator could display eight lines of text sixteen characters long or graph up to four functions simultaneously. A mark above the display reads: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TI-81.
label: Description
content: The back of the calculator has a compartment at the bottom that holds four AAA batteries as well as a small CR1616 or CR1620 battery. A mark scratched next to the battery compartment reads: R. The device has no serial number, but has a sticker at the top of the back that reads: Reconditioned. A sticker on the battery compartment cover reads: #30. Text on the back of the calculator indicates that the design was copyrighted in 1991. Text below this reads: MADE IN TAIWAN R.O.C.
label: Description
content: According to the online Datamath Museum, the first examples of the TI-81 did not include the small battery.
label: Description
content: This TI-81 was used in teaching mathematics at Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. For software received as part of the same transaction, see 1999.3054.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: [Advertisement], <I> Los Angeles Times</I>, October 15, 1990, p. C16. New TI-81 calculator selling for $99.99. List price $129.95.
label: Description
content: [Advertisement]. <I>Washington Post</I>, August 24, 1993, p. C10. TI-81 calculator, regularly $110.00, on sale for $69.99.
label: Description
content: [Advertisement]. <I>Washington Post</I>, August 7, 1994, p. AE19. TI-81 calculator, list price of $115.00, on sale for $69.99.
label: Description
content: [Advertisement]. <I>Washington Post</I>, September 4, 1994, p. F8. TI-81 calculator, regularly $115.00, on sale for $69.98.
label: Description
content: Kidwell, P.A., A. Ackerberg-Hastings, and D. L. Roberts, <I>Tools of American Mathematics Teaching</I>, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008, p. 309.
label: Description
content: Online Datamath Museum, accessed June 12, 2015.
label: Description
content: Texas Instruments, <I>TI-81 Guidebook</I>. A 1992 edition is online. Accessed June 12, 2015.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Taiwan
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Computers
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content: Computers & Business Machines
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content: Handheld Electronic Calculators
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Amherst College, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1999.0285.01
label: accession number
content: 1999.0285
label: catalog number
content: 1999.0285.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: electronic calculator, graphing
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (case; keys material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (circuitry material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (sticker material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 2.6 cm x 8.5 cm x 17.6 cm; 1 1/32 in x 3 11/32 in x 6 15/16 in