Calculators in College?

ellie. · 07-13-2008, 08:33 PM

So for my senior year AP Calc class, we are recommended to purchase a TI-89. I am just wondering what calculators you use/have. I really would like this to be my last calculator because they are pretty expensive. I know some people say that a lot of the upper level math classes aren't allowed to use graphing calculators or they are of no use, however, I also plan to major in engineering, if that makes a difference, which I think it does.

innokus · 07-13-2008, 08:37 PM

It depends on the class you are taking and the teacher. In my Calc 1 class, people were split between TI-83s and TI-89s. You could email the math department at your school and ask them what they think.

ellie. · 07-13-2008, 08:44 PM

Well, I am entering my senior year, so I don't even know which calculators they would recommend, because I don't yet know what school I'll be going to. I haven't bought a TI-89 yet, I was just wondering if I should just buy something higher (is there anything higher... 92?) before I get it. I'm just thinking that I don't want to have to buy another one once I get to college. And, I already have a TI-84 Silver Plus

Emily2007 · 07-13-2008, 10:49 PM

I use a TI-83 plus. People are pretty split between that and the 89, and the only class where one was preferred was in my Calc II class where 83 was recommended. I think either of those are safe... and TI-84 would probably be fine also.

I definitely wouldn't get anything higher than TI-89 (if that exists?) since most professors are most familiar with the 83/84/89.

burgler09 · 07-13-2008, 10:58 PM

ti-89 is a great calculator. If you are an engineering major, most professors don't give a crap about a calcultor as long as you show your work. The ti-89 is my favorite, i'm not a big fan of the voyage200, its basically the same thing with a qwerty.

Mr. Bojangles · 07-13-2008, 11:50 PM

I go to a pretty big engineering school and we are NOT allowed to use calculators. The only class where a few professors allow them is Calc III. This is for math classes though, some engineering classes may let you use a calculator, but if the work they expect you to be doing can be done on a cheaper calculator...they want the cheaper calculator. I had to buy a Ti-30 just because half the prof's won't allow graphing style calculators.

awb1989 · 07-13-2008, 11:52 PM

I'd say a TI-89 is a good investment for engineering. Yeah, yeah, you probably can't use them on exams for all of your classes, but so what? On some math exams they've said I can't use calculators, sometimes I could, and sometimes I could but it couldn't be a graphing calculator. In the third case, I went to the bookstore and bought a $2 calculator.

burgler09 · 07-14-2008, 12:24 AM

I'm glad im not an engineering major.. those damn professors are so smart they don't need a calculator for math problems that make me want to take a shot of jack daniels.

gstein · 07-14-2008, 12:32 AM

I have a TI-89 and it helps alot for engineering... although at my school we can't use calculators for math class.

TI's new calculator is called the TI-Nspire, don't know much about it, but it's supposed to be the "latest calculator" out. Maybe look into researching that, it's supposed to come with CAS (Compter-Aided Software) which can come in handy.

RacinReaver · 07-14-2008, 03:32 AM

Most of my friends that had 89s didn't know how to do a lot of fundamental math stuff I did since they became so reliant upon their calculators do it, so I'd recommend going with an 83.

I've also found any time I had to do something that required more than my 83 could handle, I'd be better off using Mathematica or Maple on my computer.

YOU · 07-14-2008, 07:48 AM

Can we do with a scientific calculator in college? Is a graphing calculator compulsory? I've never use one my life and I'm heading to college this fall..

mcim · 07-14-2008, 08:05 AM

I took engineering and we were allowed to use graphing calculators. TI-83+ was the most common I saw, and the one I used, although I had a spare TI-84+ I found in another class.

ginnyvere · 07-14-2008, 08:06 AM

If the choice is between an 89 and higher, then go for the 89. But you could probably make do with an 83 in calc. with no real problem. To the person who asked if a scientific calculator would be enough in college, it depends on what classes you take. Personally, I found my graphing calculator helpful in my physics classes and my math classes (when it was allowed), but there was never a class that required it.

feenotype · 07-14-2008, 09:27 AM

If you're teacher is recommending it, go for it. You will be required to have a scientific calculator anyway, since there is no way your teacher will allow you to use the 89 on a calculus tests (maybe they will divide it into two parts, one no-89, on 89-okay).

In college, if you go into engineering and science as a major, it won't hurt you to have it.

YOU · 07-14-2008, 10:49 AM

I'm a prospective engineering/physics/math major heading to college this fall.. with no experience in graphing calculators.. so which one should I get for my engineering/math/physics courses.. 89? I really dunno about a thing about graphing calculators..