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Calculator for computer science major?

S

siftings81

Member
Looking for a calculator that will replace my TI-82. It will be used in calculus I, II, discrete math, linear algebra, etc.. Should i just go ahead and get the TI-83 (plus?) or step up to the TI-89? (is the 89 even allowed for exams?)
Thanks
 
I'd get the 83... most textbooks that make use of graphing calculator software use the TI-83 as their guinea pig.
 
You won't use your calculator much, if at all, in your classes. However, it's very useful in Linear Algebra if you don't have access to Matlab or something. Your TI-82 should be fine as long as it can do basic matrix/vector calculations and integrals.
 
You'll only be able to use it on homework assignments. Very very few professors will allow you to use it during an exam.
 
get an 82 or 83, i've seen engineering students burned on tests cause they rely on their 89 or 92 on the exam.
 
get the 89. the 83 is for little babies.

ok.. not really.. but the 89 can do much more.. and at my school (San Jose State, Mechanical Engineering) the professors don't give a crap what calculator you use. The concepts are things that a calculator won't help you with.
And in math classes I wasn't allowed to use a calculator at all, or if it was, it helped about as much as copying off a business major 😛

So why not get the best calculator for use outside of the classroom? 89 has better games 🙂

-patchy
 
Yeah, but when the professor explains how to do something on the calculator, odds are he'll tell you about the TI-83...and you'll be stuck in the back of the room frantically searching on your 89 for how to do the same thing.

Better yet, why don't you just call the CompSci department at your school and ASK THEM??

That seems like a good idea.
 
I would recommend the 89. I've got the bigger version (92+) and I love it. I don't use it too often, but when I need it, it sure is handy. I've got a spare 89 I'm selling in this thread:

TI-89 for $120 shipped

If you are interested, PM me or e-mail me and let me know.

However, I will caution you to call up your school and ask what types of calculators are allowed in your CS courses and in your math/science courses (calculus etc).

Good luck!

Ryan
 
Originally posted by: JuMpR629
Yeah, but when the professor explains how to do something on the calculator, odds are he'll tell you about the TI-83...and you'll be stuck in the back of the room frantically searching on your 89 for how to do the same thing.

Better yet, why don't you just call the CompSci department at your school and ASK THEM??

That seems like a good idea.
Click to expand...
Same reason why people come here for medical advice, our advice is more fun than going to someone who actually know the answer 🙂

So....get a Toshiba Xscale PPC with WiFi, it might not work well as a calculator but it's sooo nifty!
 
Why even bother with the 83?

The 86 is allowed on exams in most every school and if you learn to use it it has a whole lot of great functions on it.


Also, pick up an 89 as well. Even though you wont be able to use it on exams (at most schools anyway) they come in real handy when trying to figure out homework problems and ae a great learning tool.
 
Originally posted by: Hayabusarider
Any of these TI's use RPN?
Click to expand...

No, you whacko HP user! TI uses only infix.
AFAIK

Honestly, as a CS major I don't remember using my graphing calculator very often. I had a TI82 in HS, but the few times I actually needed a calculator, I just used my scientific...
 
Originally posted by: Jzero
Originally posted by: Hayabusarider Any of these TI's use RPN?
Click to expand...
No, you whacko HP user! TI uses only infix. AFAIK Honestly, as a CS major I don't remember using my graphing calculator very often. I had a TI82 in HS, but the few times I actually needed a calculator, I just used my scientific...
Click to expand...

Obviously of peasant stock... 😛

Seriously, I have to do some crazy computations. RPN is the most logical way to do it, but the TIs have better graphing. Function works over pretty, so for me the HP
 
Originally posted by: Hayabusarider
Originally posted by: Jzero
Originally posted by: Hayabusarider Any of these TI's use RPN?
Click to expand...
No, you whacko HP user! TI uses only infix. AFAIK Honestly, as a CS major I don't remember using my graphing calculator very often. I had a TI82 in HS, but the few times I actually needed a calculator, I just used my scientific...
Click to expand...

Obviously of peasant stock... 😛

Seriously, I have to do some crazy computations. RPN is the most logical way to do it, but the TIs have better graphing. Function works over pretty, so for me the HP
Click to expand...

If I want to think in postfix, I'll use LiSP, thanks.
🙂
Actually, I really like RPN, too. All the engineers love HP calculators and RPN.
 
I haven't seriously touched a calculator since I got to college and I'm a computer science major. I have a solar powered scientific one and it r0x0rs your s0x0rs.

Eventually you get to a point in math where little actual computation is needed (abstract math).
 
I'm a computer engineering major using a TI-86. I had a 92, but it got water in it when it rained and doesn't work anymore. Only had it about a semester too.

You might want to get something like an 86, because in the physics class I'm taking now, we're not allowed to use calculators that offer built-in integration capability (the 89 does...)

Just food for thought.
 
Back when I was all into TI graphing calcs (1998, high school), the TI-86 was the shiznit. I'm just a college-algebra-level business student, so my TI-82 is still suiting me fine. 🙂
 
I'm not allowed to use graphing calculators on my exams (sometimes no calculators at all) 🙁
TI put out a nice little scientific that has a two line display, you input solutions like you would a graphing calculator.
 
Originally posted by: xirtam
I'm a computer engineering major using a TI-86. I had a 92, but it got water in it when it rained and doesn't work anymore. Only had it about a semester too.

You might want to get something like an 86, because in the physics class I'm taking now, we're not allowed to use calculators that offer built-in integration capability (the 89 does...)

Just food for thought.
Click to expand...

Ummm you can integrate with the 83....fnInt()
 
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