dAILY PoLL: Which Graphing Calculator Do You Use/Prefer

[gopunk]

i have the 85, i would get an 89 if i were buying another

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
Graphing calculators suck. They're too complicated to do the easy stuff quickly, yet they're not sophisticated enough to solve difficult problems. I use a good scientific calculator when I'm at school (Casio fx-991), if I need more sophistication I use Maple on my home computer

Besides they don't allow any calculators in university level math courses, eng. ones only allow the faculty standard scientific calc.

All this to say that my Ti-83 is collecting dust these days and I wish I'd never bought it.

Have you ever used a modern calculator? (read: 89 or 92/92+)

The ability to do symbolic integration/differentiation can be very useful.

Viper GTS

not for the level math I'm doing. Even Maple chokes on some of the integrals I have to solve so I doubt these calculators would solve them. However Maple, is also useful for solving ODEs PDEs and linear algebra problems , which is why it's so useful... It's polyvalent

If the integral can be expressed as any combination of elementary functions, the 89 should work for an indefinite integral. This exempts some integrals, of course. But then if can't be expressed in elemtary functions, just leave it in integral form! I've never had to solve an integral of that type.And I've never had it fail a definite integral.

And the TI89 can solve ODEs. Not sure about PDEs but I will find out in about three weeks when my DiffEQ class does a brief overview of them. It's a function called: desolve(equation, dependant var, independant var)

 

[toant103]

TI-85

 

[PraetorianGuards]

I love my TI-89, great interface. Easy to do whole calculations in one fell swoop.

 

[RbSX]

in certain schools (mostly highschools) in certain places you can't use the HP calculator. That is the case at my school.

 

[flamingelephant]

hp48

 

[pennylane]

my friend calls his TI-89 the "deus ex machina"

 

[ROTC1983]

I am using a TI-89 even though I can't use it on any exams

 

[BMdoobieW]

I bought a TI-82 for high school, then upgraded to a TI-86 when my sister needed the TI-82. Everyone with TI-85's was jealous of me because I had a lot more memory for games and proggies than they did.

 

[brtspears2]

Ti-89 greatest tool ever for homework ... then 10 steps backwards to a Casio Scientific Caluclator for tests.

 

[dethman]

i miss my TI-89 since my fiancee took it and then broke up with me and kept it. and the ring too. :|

 

[PCMarine]

The tried and true TI-83+ for highschool

 

[helpme]

TI-89 is sooo cool

 

[numark]

No one else uses the CFX 9850-GB+ here? I love this calculator. It's pretty cheap and it does most everything that I need to do, plus I find that the on-screen display looks a lot better than the TIs with that weird blocky font.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

48G

RPN Baby!

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
TI-92+ is an absolutely wonderful piece of hardware.

The 89 is good as well, but just can't compete with the full keyboard, larger screen, etc. of the 92+.

Viper GTS

I was looking at both of these recently, and decided on the 89 rather than the 92. A) the 92 is more expensive and b) the QWERTY keyboard means that it's not allowed on standardized tests. Not really a problem for me since I'm in college, but my brother borrows it once in a while too, and he's still in high school.

Nate

 

[imported_Mike]

well, looks like the 89 is the most popular choice

 

[vegetation]

I had the TI-85 during my years. Nice machine for its time, but I would have killed to have something like the TI-89 that's available now.

 

[eplebnista]

TI-89

 

[HokieESM]

Honestly, it doesn't matter. The TI-82 would be fine... the TI 89 and 92 are nice, as well--although the 92 can't be used on a LOT of standardized tests because of the QWERTY keyboard. I personally prefer HPs... but they're pricey. The HP48 (which has been replaced by the 49) has been THE standard for engineers for quite awhile (it came out in 1990)..... but the reverse polish notation gets to some people.

In all honesty, if you're going to be doing a LOT of math, I would encourage you to do as much of it BY HAND as humanly possible. Not for arithmetic, of course... but for graphing and ESPECIALLY differentiation and integration, you should be doing it by hand. I've taught statics (an entry level engineering course) for several semesters, and I'm APPALLED by the number of people who can't tell me simple things without doing it on their calculator (especially integration and differentiation). I think things like Maple and Mathematica (as well as calculators) have led to this directly.... and while they are WONDERFUL tools once you REALLY know how to do things, you shouldn't be learning with them. Plus, really difficult integrals and differentials are frequently easier to do by hand... because there is usually a trick involved.

 

[Nitemare]

Took a chance and went with the TI-89 so far so good.

Some teachers can be very anal about what calcs you are permitted to use. The 89 is one that is most often prohibited. The 92 looks like a friggin mini laptop and draws way too much attention to itself, I would like to use the 92 but I would hate to waste all that coinage if I could not use it on a test like I can my 89 as it looks like your 86 and 85's but will do everything a 92 will do.