Math is a numbers game. One way to play it is with a calculator. Since I never played the numbers very well, I consulted Texas Instruments to see if using better equipment might hold the answers…

Dear Instrumentalists from Texas:

Calculators from Texas Instruments look very sophisticated. I’ve read descriptions on your website such as; “features even more time-saving calculations” and “make short work of complex equations.” I can’t figure out which calculator would be my best option because I suck at math, so none of that product hype applies to me. No matter how advanced the calculator, I still can’t ever calculate the right answer. I’m so bad that every month I have to put an entry in my checkbook titled, “Balance Error,” and wipe out any overages or deficits.

If you really want to make math easy, create a calculator that actually does the math for you. It needs to answer questions like: Boris makes $43,591.28 per year and Natasha makes $59,841.03, so what is the square root of the difference after you multiply it by Pi? Forget calculators — the only way I’m going to get the answer to that math problem is by hiring someone at H&R Block! Do you even know the answer? Plus, the only Pi I’m interested in is apple or Boston cream.

Does Texas Instruments have any products in development to help the mathematically challenged? How about a calculator that lets you verbally ask it the question and then it figures out the answer for you? Maybe you could help more people like me if you started being more answer driven and stopped being so calculating all the time.

Got any advice?

An Education Technology  Customer Satisfaction and Service Representative  responded with:

Thank you for contacting Texas Instruments. We appreciate your interest in and support of our products.

I regret you are having difficulty using our calculators. Unfortunately you did not specify what calculator you own or are interested in. We do not have any TI products to help the mathematically challenged. We do not provide math help. Nor does TI have a product that you can verbally ask a question and it answers for you. An option for you could be to get a Tutor, or check your local area for tutoring services. You may download calculator guidebooks free of charge, to help guide you on how to use the calculator not how to do the math, at the following website: http://education.ti.com/educationportal/appsdelivery/download/download_select_product.jsp?cid=us&displaymode=G

Once you have found a calculator to work with, our website has free tutorials for you to review. http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/sectionHome/tutorials.html

Another resource you can use to find answers to your questions, example calculations and other information is our Knowledge Base. The Knowledge Base is accessible to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. http://support.education.ti.com

If you need further assistance, please send an email to (email address followed) or call a customer service representative at (phone number followed).

Final Thoughts: To sum things up, Texas Instruments was as helpful as possible under the circumstances. Although, it doesn’t appear the kind of calculator I need has been invented yet. Beyond that, TI still provided some sound advice. Unfortunately, what I need is numbers advice because no matter how many guidebooks, calculator instruction manuals or knowledge bases I study; it still won’t help me solve math problems. Plus, there’s no point in getting a tutor to help with my checkbook since I already have an accountant and adding another person to the payroll would just make it even harder to balance.

I have no way of knowing what kind of problems you have, and although my problems probably run deeper, it might add up for you to see if products from Texas Instruments have the answers for you. The bottom line is that a product may or may not exist to solve your problems; however, one way to find out is to Write The Company.