DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM

We Celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the Little Professor

Dallas (June 13, 1976) "Little Professor. A fun way for children to practice basic math facts. The Little Professor is a unique product designed specifically to aid children 5 years and older in exploring basic mathematics. Although it is not truly a calculator, the Little Professor generates a sequence of problems – over 16,000 preprogrammed problems in all – and involves children in math practice through an enjoyable instant feedback and reinforcement situation.

By using the four-position switch indicating degrees of difficulty, and the appropriate function key ([+], [−], [×], [÷]), the teacher can select a range of random math problems needed for individual students. The student can then work independently as he progresses toward mastering math skills.

Problems appear on the large LED display as an equation, and the child is given three opportunities to input the correct answer through the keyboard. An error indication is displayed for one second each time the child incorrectly answers the problem. If the correct answer is not given in three chances, the completed equation appears in the display, allowing the child to see the mistake. By pressing [GO], he can then proceed to the next problem. If the child inputs the correct answer, the complete equation is displayed for one second and a new problem appears. As an additional incentive, the Little Professor displays the score of correct first answers after each set of 10 problems.

Powered by a single nine-volt disposable battery, the Little Professor is fully portable and is perfect for individual students use in the class room".

The Little Professor was introduced June 13, 1976 together with the TI-30, the SR-40, and the financial calculator Business Analyst. With an SRP of $19.95, it was a great success and brought the idea of the groundbreaking Centurion International Industries Multiputer (CPD-15) and the more common Cybernetic Systems Mathiputer (CPD-35) from the classroom to the living room. Probably the best selling educational calculator ever and even today, 50 years later, our kids and grandkids are still using the modern Little Professor Solar.

Let us browse together all Little Professor models introduced during the past 50 years. If you like more information about a product, just click on the picture or name of the educational calculator.

Picture	Year	Official Name	Comments
	1976	Little Professor (1976 Version A)	The first Little Professor was introduced June 13, 1976, borrowing the technology of the TI-1200/TI-1250 calculators.
	1976	Little Professor (1976 Version B)	Additional PCB to fix clock oscillator issues of TMS0975NL Rev. ZA 0356 BP chip.
	1976	Little Professor (1976 Version C)	Smaller (Shrink) chip package, TMS0975NL Rev. ZA 0356 CSP chip.
	1976	Little Professor (1976 Version XC)	Final version of the TMS0975NL design with Rev. KCS and Rev. GCS.
	1978	Little Professor (1978)	Replacing the (expensive) sliding switches with extra keys and now based on the TI-1000 calculator but still using TI-1200-sized keyboards.
	1980	Little Professor (1980)	Replacing the large TI-1200 keyboards with smaller TI-1010 keyboards.
	1982	Little Professor (1982)	Replacing the power-hungry LED display with an LCD and switching to the single-chip calculator technology of the TI-35 and introducing a membrane keyboard.
	1982	Little Professor (1982 UK)	Using a traditional keyboard borrowed from the TI-1032.
	1985	Little Professor (1985)	Minor design changes.
	1985	Little Professor (1985 EU)	Revised keyboard layout matching the TI-30 from 1985.
	1995	Solar Little Professor (1995)	Finally using solar cells instead of disposable batteries and awarded with the Blue Angle environmental label.
	1997	Solar Little Professor (1997)	Production moved from Italy to China.
	2011	Little Professor Solar (2011)	The Solar Little Professor is back as Little Professor Solar.
	2020	Little Professor Solar (2020)	Production moved from China to the Philippines and using larger solar cells.
	2023	Little Professor Solar (2023)	Using again smaller solar cells and resembling the first Solar Little Professor introduced in 1995 - still available on June 13, 2026.