Skip to main content

Search

My Visit
Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution

Site Navigation

  • Visit
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Maps and Brochures
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
      • Group Sales
  • What's On
    • Exhibitions
      • Current
      • Upcoming
      • Past
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
  • Explore
    • - Art & Design
    • - History & Culture
    • - Science & Nature
    • - Innovation & Tech
    • Collections
      • Open Access
      • Snapshot
    • Research Resources
      • Libraries
      • Archives
        • Smithsonian Institution Archives
        • Air and Space Museum
        • Anacostia Community Museum
        • American Art Museum
        • Archives of American Art
        • Archives of American Gardens
        • American History Museum
        • American Indian Museum
        • Asian Art Museum Archives
        • Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art
        • Hirshhorn Archive
        • National Anthropological Archives
        • National Portrait Gallery
        • Ralph Rinzler Archives, Folklife
        • Libraries' Special Collections
    • Podcasts
    • Stories
  • Learn
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
      • Art & Design Resources
      • Science & Nature Resources
      • Social Studies & Civics Resources
      • STEAM Learning Resources
      • Professional Development
      • Events for Educators
      • Field Trips
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
      • Smithsonian Call Center
      • Ambassador Program
      • Museum Information Desk
      • Docent Programs
      • Behind-the-Scenes
      • Digital Volunteers
      • Participatory Science
  • About
    • Our Organization
      • Board of Regents
        • Members
        • Committees
        • Reading Room
        • Bylaws, Policies and Procedures
        • Schedules and Agendas
        • Meeting Minutes
        • Actions
        • Webcasts
        • Contact
      • Museums and Zoo
      • Research Centers
      • Cultural Centers
      • Education Centers
      • General Counsel
        • Legal History
        • Internships
        • Records Requests
          • Reading Room
        • Tort Claim
        • Subpoenas & Testimonies
        • Events
      • Office of Human Resources
        • Employee Benefits
        • How to Apply
        • Job Opportunities
        • Job Seekers with Disabilities
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • SI Civil Program
        • Contact Us
      • Office of Equal Opportunity
        • EEO Complaint Process
        • Individuals with Disabilities
        • Small Business Program
          • Doing Business with Us
          • Contracting Opportunities
          • Additional Resources
        • Special Emphasis Program
      • Sponsored Projects
        • Policies
          • Combating Trafficking in Persons
          • Animal Care and Use
          • Human Research
        • Reports
        • Internships
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
      • Annual Reports
      • Metrics Dashboard
        • Dashboard Home
        • Virtual Smithsonian
        • Public Engagement
        • National Collections
        • Research
        • People & Operations
      • Strategic Plan
    • Newsdesk
      • News Releases
      • Media Contacts
      • Photos and Video
      • Media Kits
      • Fact Sheets
      • Visitor Stats
      • Secretary and Admin Bios
      • Filming Requests

Texas Instruments TI-92 Handheld Electronic Calculator

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Texas Instruments
Description
This programmable, handheld, symbolic graphing electronic calculator has a black plastic case and cover. An alphabetic (qwerty) keyboard is on the bottom left, and a numeric keyboard like that of an ordinary electronic calculator is on the right. The display is above the alphabetic keyboard and function keys are on both sides of it. These function keys operate a toolbar on the screen that brings up pull-down menus on the screen. For example, pushing the F2 function key brings up such “algebra” commands as solve, factor, expand, zeroes, approximation, common denominator, proper fraction, trigonometry, complex, and extract. It is possible to split the display, showing, for example, functions on one side and their graphs on the other.
There is a connection for a cord, but no cord.
A mark on the back reads: TEXAS (/) INSTRUMENTS (/) V0116515 I-0995 (/) MADE IN TAIWAN R.O.C. Moving a lever on the top edge makes it possible to change the four AA batteries. There is also a backup battery of style CR2032.
The TI-92 incorporated the symbolic algebra software DERIVE and the geometry package CABRI.
This TI-92 was owned by Harvard University mathematician Andrew Gleason.
References:
“What’s in a Name?,” Washington Post, July 10, 1995, p. 17. New TI-92 at the border between a calculator and a computer. Will sell for about $200. “The slide rule looks more ancient than ever.”
[Advertisement], New York Times, July 25, 1996, p. A19. TI-92 selling for $179.99.
[Advertisement], Washington Post, August 30, 1998, p. AH6. TI-92 selling for $199.99.
John Berry, “TEXAS TI-92, the Calculator with Symbolic Algebra and Cabri,” Mathematics in School, 25 #1, January 1996, pp. 44–47.
Sally Fischbeck, “TI-92 Graphing Calculator,” College Mathematics Journal, 27 #3, May, 1996, pp. 224–230. This article gives a recommended retail price for the calculator of $250.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Jean Berko Gleason
1995
ID Number
2012.0063.05
accession number
2012.0063
catalog number
2012.0063.05
Object Name
electronic calculator
Physical Description
plastic (case; cover; keys material)
metal (circuitry material)
Measurements
overall: 4.6 cm x 23 cm x 12.5 cm; 1 13/16 in x 9 1/16 in x 4 29/32 in
place made
Taiwan
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Computers
Computers & Business Machines
Handheld Electronic Calculators
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_1421370
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-9724-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
Texas Instruments TI-92 Handheld Electronic Calculator, Top Edge
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Footer logo

Link to homepage

Footer navigation

  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Get Involved
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • EEO & Small Business
  • Shop Online
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Social media links

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Sign up for Smithsonian e-news

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Email powered by BlackBaud (Privacy Policy, Terms of Use)
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Back to Top