Download a Free Graphing Calculator

While the Windows XP Calculator contains many basic and scientific functions, you may need a calculator that performs advanced functionality as well as the ability to plot equations on a graph. If so then you're in luck, as Microsoft provides a graphing calculator you can download for free from its PowerToys suite.

1. Visit the following webpage to access the Microsoft Windows XP PowerToys website:

* http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

2. Click on "PowerCalc.exe" (this actually opens "PowerCalcPowertoySetup.exe") to download and open the calculator setup.

3. When prompted, click "Next" to continue the installation (you may have to first confirm you wish to run the application).

4. Read the EULA, select that you agree to the terms (if you do!), and click "Next".

5. Enter in your name and organization (if you wish) and click "Next".

6. Continue to click "Next", "Install", and "Finish" to install the graphing calculator.

To run the graphing calculator, click "Start", select "All Programs", "Powertoys for Windows XP", then "PowerToy Calculator".

For some example graphs that can be plotted using this calculator, enter in the following equations:

U formation: f(x)=x^2
V formation: f(x)=abs(x)
Rising Curve: f(x)=exp(x)
Sine wave: f(x)=sin(x)

You can use the "Conversions" menu to display formulas that perform unit conversions involving length, mass, time, velocity, and temperature. For some example conversions, enter the following into the calculator:

Converts 5 inches to feet: 5[in->ft]
Converts 0 degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit: 0[c->f]
Converts 23 days to minutes: 23[d->min]
Converts 100 pounds to ounces: 100[lb->oz]

Got something to add? Post a comment!

Everyone is invited to submit comments. Registered users also receive their own visitor profile page with a summary of recent posts.
Register | Login

k kamb (11/23/2009 20:44:31)

This is going to be used for math in college

35 total posts | view profile

Andrew Malek (01/08/2010 17:35:25)

Glad to help!

Cole T (01/15/2010 07:16:07)

lol This is already being used for my college classes...lol perfect for work while being on the labtop at same time :P

t-stro (03/04/2010 23:34:43)

Is their an implementation of power toys for win vista? why isn't it compatible even though win vista can emulate win xp processes ?

CTwalker (04/09/2010 05:27:12)

t-stro, it will work under Vista, you just have to create a shortcut to the calc.exe then on the shortcut properties, set the compatibility mode.

Patashu (04/21/2010 10:47:15)

Powercalc is great to use, but you have to watch out for weird bugs: for instance, the trigonometric functions behave poorly for values far from zero (graph one and you'll see!), and it thinks that e + or - anything is zero (this one is weird! you can define a constant to equal e, then add and subtract from THAT and it works fine). It can also freeze if given a calculation too hard for it with no means of freeing it. It also lacks useful functions like floor, ceil, round, factorial, modulus and 'bit counting' functions (like binary xor). In spite of this I still use it over windows calculator, as you can construct calculations as expressions instead of one piece at a time, having to restart if you mess up - much more user friendly. The bugs don't effect most use of the program, but you still need to be wary of them.

Mikayla Kingsley (05/20/2010 01:23:20)

i would like this to do my Home Work

MJ (09/03/2010 06:19:26)

Will this work for Windows 7?

Your name:
E-mail:
* Home/Blog Page:
Comment: (Max chars: 5000)

Windows XP and Calculator

Got something to add? Post a comment!

Topics: