Count Em! Five! (Stars)

Graphing Calculator (US$0.99), may not be the most interesting application to hit the iTunes App Store, but it certainly achieves its purpose. Its purpose, by the way, is to make your boring old iPhone "into an intuitive high-resolution function plotter and scientific calculator." This app contains the functions of a regular calculator, scientific calculator and graphics (or graphing) calculator and rolls them into one convenient application.

When I first used this app I was expecting to find a handy tool for graphing equations (unfortunately this is something I must do often), but I was pleasantly surprised to find a complete scientific calculator with all the bells and whistles that would be expected from its more common counterpart. Graphing Calculator contains all the basic (and even advanced) trigonometry functions, not to mention all the other logarithm and advanced mathematical functions.

The iPhone's built in calculator does share some of its functions with the Graphing Calculator and vice versa. The standard calculator does contain some functions which aren't included in the graphing app and the graphing app has advanced functions that don't come with the standard issue (and I'm not even talking about it's graphing abilities).

The graphing capabilities are what really makes this app spectacular (well, as spectacular as a calculator can get). This app contains all the functions of a regular graphics calculator (which can cost over $100). It allows the user to set up to four values (or equations) and will graph each on one well-designed easy-to-read graphical layout. I must admit, I haven't fully come to terms with the entire range of functions of the calculator (particularly the graphing sections), but the parts in which I do have the knowledge to be able to use are simple and effective. The app also comes with a hefty (and helpful) "help" section, which I am constantly referencing.

Graphing Calculator may not have mass appeal, but it does have effectiveness and time and money saving appeal as a substitute. I was (and still am) very impressed with this app, and in the context of it's purpose (calculations, equations and graphing these), it's rating will reflect its usefulness. (I also just found out that the graph will rotate with the turning of the screen.) For less than a dollar, this app is a steal and should be purchased by anyone needing a scientific calculator, ASAP.

MyAppSource Rating: Five Stars!