CASIO fx-82NL

Description

Brand: CASIO
Model: fx-82NL CLASSWIZ
Type: Semi programmable scientific calculator
Picture: CASIO fx-82NL
Batteries: AAA x 1
Lifetime: Introduced: 2023
Terminated: unknown
Notes: The CASIO fx-82 series started with the CASIO fx-82, an ordinary scientific calculator. But CASIO kept extending this line, turning it not into just a model number but a whole calculator series. Trying to make it the non-programmable scientific calculator for school use.

So far I’ve found mention of the following types:

This CASIO fx-82NL was developed especially for the Dutch (Netherlands, hence NL) school system. It has two localisations, Dutch and English. Its default decimal separator is the comma. Also, its default way to show values such as 3/2 is 11/2 as we do in The Netherlands.

It runs on one AAA battery. At the back the extra space needed for this battery is used as a stand to tilt the calculator a little.

It has a multi-line dot matrix display that is easily readable. The contrast can be set using the SETTINGS menu which shows a menu that can be easily navigated using the arrow keys and back button.

It has more menu’s. Use the CATALOG menu to access all possible functions this calculator has. And the VARIABLE menu to view all the variables and even set their values. The values of the variables are not lost when the calculator is switched off.

When I first saw it I didn’t like the colour and its general looks at all. The blue colour looks similar to the colour the Dutch retailer Albert Heijn uses but that must be pure coincidence. According to the brochure the blue colour is "easy on the eyes".

It is supposed to be the successor to the CASIO fx-82MS and the CASIO fx-82EX.

It is actually semi programmable. Not really programmable with flow control but since it is possible to define two functions f(x) and g(x) using the FUNCTION menu I would classify it as such. This capability can for instance be used to calculate the numerical approximation of the derivative of a function. For instance:
Define f(x) as:

f(x) = x2
Then, define g(x) as:

g(x) = (f(x + ,000000001) - f(x)) ÷ ,000000001
Now, the result of g(value) will be the numerical approximate slope (derivative) of f(value). In this case the value of g(4) will be 8 (and a bit) since the derivative of x2 is 2x.

The definitions of f(x) and g(x) are unfortunately lost when te calculator is switched off which I find odd since the values of variables are not.

CASIO fx-82NL QR-Code A really interesting feature of this calculator is its use of QR-Codes. It can display a QR-Code which can be scanned to go to a website with its manual. But even more peculiar, there is a special QR function to display the current result as a QR-Code. Scanning it using one’s phone will redirect to a page on classpad.net (link validated 2025-11-21) showing said result in an on-line calculator environment. Since lights cast shadows on LCD’s it takes some exercise to get the code scanned. But even the scanned QR-Code shown here works if your screen is bright enough.

This QR-Code functionality works as long as CASIO keeps their infrastructure operational of course.

The result show here, by the way, is the result of squaring the number 1.0000001 twenty-seven times. Not by entering 1.0000001227 directly using the power key but by entering 1.0000001 and then squaring it repeatedly. This is a great test of a calculator’s accuracy. This calculator shows the correct result up to four decimals (674530.4707) which is something a lot of calculators can’t.

The fact that this calculator uses an internal accuracy of 23 digits certainly helps!

All in all quite a useful and powerful calculator for school use. If one can cope with its colour.


©2025 Ernst Mulder