Does anyone have a suggestion on a TI calculator for algebra through calculus. I'm looking at a ti 84+ SE or TI 86, or a TI 89. I want the best all around choice. thanks for the help.


Dan

 

I had a TI 86. It got me through college. I've never used a 89 as the 86 was the latest and greatest when I got it. Some of the functions are a little different than the 86 but they'll do basically the same thing. They have a 92 or something like that that is 6"x10" and weighs as much as a brick. I think the 89 will more than handle algebra through calculus. You might want to get a TI 30, I think, too because alot of professors won't allow the others on tests because you can store equations and stuff in them. I know you can no longer use them for the FE exams anymore. All and all I would suggest the 89 since they will probably obsolete the 86 a few year down the road like the old 84 and 85s.

Jeremy

 

TI 86, you'll love the solve function.

Your professors will check to see if your memory is cleared before exams.

 

Jeremy

Thanks for your input

Dan

 

i like my 83+ most professors allow any calculator up to that. and unless u really wanna get into it deep and program and stuff like that you dont need anything more powerful than an 83. also, with the ACT and SAT's if u havent taken it yet they dont allow anything over an 83+ either. my friend has a 92, and its insane u might as well buy a laptop, im perfectly happy with my 83, its gotten me through 4 yrs of h.s. and a couple calc classes in college so far.....you guys seem to have stricter professors than at OU, ive never had to clear my memory...not that ive ever had notes in there to begin with (yah right) and we're allowed to use any calculator we want, except for a couple classes we cant use anything above an 83 or maybe an 85 even

 

Don't know about the TI's. I have used a Hewlett Packard 12C for many years and love it.
Dono

 

I have a 83+ also and it has been enough to get me through high school and a college algebra as well as Accounting and Economics. It has been great and did everything I needed to do. Also, you can pick them up on ebay from a recent grad. for a little bit of nothing, relatively. I have had one professor that did not allow it. It was a finance class and we had to use a financial calculator. Other than that, I have not had any problems using it.

 

Go HP. Reverse Polish Notation rules.

 

I had a TI 81 backin high scholl algebra....until it got stolen anyways....that thing was top of the line back 8 years ago, or close to it.....it was nice...I worked on a TI 86 and a 92 my senior year. the 86 was nice.....the 92 was just too big but you could do anything on it

 

Depending on your future career path......

If in Engineering, you may want to consider an HP48GX (or whatever today's model is, mine was circa 1996).

I had a TI81 & the wife a TI82. After using the HP, I have a hard time using a TI30.

 

I can't stand to use a regular calculator. RPN is just so much easier to use.

 

We used TI-83+ calculators at my high school and they recommended them, so thats why I have one. It got me through the SAT and ACT and I've never needed a function it didn't have. I like their ease of use and they aren't too expensive.

 

Gee Mike, I've got an old HP up in the attic someplace, jammed with memory and math packs..RPN is easier, in a reverse logic sort of way.. If you are looking at the engineering route, the HP's are a lot faster, as far as keystrokes.

I had an TI-85 and liked the thing, (about the same as an 86). Was easy to get used to the keys, the display was easy to read and second/third functions made sense. I upgraded to the 89 last year after giving the 85 to one of the kids for school. The 89 has a lot more bells and is fun to play with, but I find it difficult to use for just regular number crunching. The display is small and some of my favorite functions are buried in a menu somewhere. On the up side, the problems that you enter display in formula form. You can tell at a glance if you've entered things correctly. It's a programming dream and there's lots of software you can download. Plus, upgrades can be downloaded from the TI site.

If you're just starting out with algebra/trig, I would get the 86, unless the school is pushing the 89 and everyone will be using it. The one to get is the one the teachers are familiar with. You don't want your calculator to be harder to learn than calculus. Noncomformity is great, but doesn't apply to math and school.

 

The 89 can integrate and evaluate derivatives. I got one when I started grad school becaues neither my 82 or I could do it!

 

Shhhh...