Math tools are changing in math education, and Desmos is a game changer. It is a free, online graphing calculator that’s easy to use, packed with many features, and accessible to everyone. With the SAT now including Desmos in all parts of the math section, the College Board has made a clear change that digital calculators are the future.

Various handheld calculators, like the TI-84, are expensive—over $100. Not every student can afford one. Desmos, on the other hand, is free and works on any device. This makes math tools more accessible to all students.

Desmos is designed to make math easier to understand. There are several math questions you can plug into it. Desmos includes Instant Graphing: Type in an equation, and Desmos graphs it immediately–without hesitation, and with no confusing buttons or steps to follow. Exploring Math Visually: You can adjust numbers and see how graphs change in real time, making concepts easier to grasp.

A sophomore student at Hayfield Secondary School, Aubrey Unciano, is currently taking Algebra 2 HN’s and used Desmos to her advantage back in Algebra 1.

“Desmos enhances learning and without it, students wouldn’t have a tool to visualize math concepts,” Unciano said.

Whether you’re solving equations, analyzing data, or even exploring algebra, Desmos has you covered with no doubt. Compared to clunky hand-held calculators, Desmos is much faster, smoother, and far more advanced in our times.

The SATs have made Desmos available for all math sections covering algebra, data analysis, geometry, and trigonometry. The SAT ensures that every student has access to the same high-quality tool by having these math key elements.
“Why not bring this same approach into classrooms?” sophomore Luka Gates said.

Math is not just about solving problems; it’s about learning to use tools and understanding the content fully. Desmos helps students develop digital skills they’ll need in the real world, unlike hand-held calculators, which haven’t changed much.

“Desmos keeps math education much more relevant, understandable, and efficient,” junior Kayla Spiess-Ki said.

Many teachers, like Mary Scully, the Middle School Side Math Department Chair, have been advocating for students to use Desmos.

“Desmos can do basic arithmetic very easily for students … The whys and hows are now more important [what you will get].” Scully said. “Desmos is now a resource. It is not a shortcut.”

On the other hand, Administrator Adrienne Williams disagrees as she is the math supervisor for grades 7 through 12.

“Desmos spits out the answers … [with Desmos] you can type in a whole entire problem and then get the answer. For example, if you are learning how to factor and you put it in, it’ll spit out the answers and [it] defeats the whole purpose of learning how to factor,” Williams said.

Many students disagree, saying that Desmos is a tool the College Board gives on the SATs, so why can’t we use it in class on tests as well?

Let’s move forward and make Desmos the standard in every classroom at Hayfield Secondary School.