graphical calcs

[otispunkmeyer]

well im thinking about splurging for a graphical calc

now i have picked 3 that a possibilities

casio 9850G Plus
Hewlett Packard HP 39G
Texus Instruments TI 83

now ive been told the HP is pretty rubbish

and i get the impression that in the US the TI83 is used alot in college-uni, certainly the specs look impressive, is it worth the extra?

we are more acustomed to casio varients in this country, whenever college has lent them out to use its been a casio, i have used the colour screen casio calculator (the design before the one i linked too) and i didnt find it too good, the colours were well washed out, and the novelty of only 3 colours soon wore off

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

what are you going to be using it for? If it's for college, check with the dept you are applying into before buying anything; odds are there is a faculty standard calculator.

 

[jacob0401]

Ti-89 is godsend for college level calc hw, but most courses will not let you use a graphing calculator for exams, but useful later on if you are an engineering major. Ti-83 is fine for highschool math and calc also good for college stats. If you really want to be good at math don't use a graphing calc at all...

EDIT: This in the US...

 

[Kyteland]

My trusty HP 48G followed me through the last 10 years and I wouldn't give it up for anything. My TI 85 and 86 have come and gone, and I will be very sad the day my HP finally gives up the ghost.

 

[Jmman]

The Ti83 or the newer TI84 are standard for college math here in the States. The TI-89 is a cut above, but some prefessors will not let you use it because it essentially will do all of the work for you. If your profs let you, the TI-89 is hard to beat.....

I would personally stay away from the HP or the casio.....

 

[Amplifier]

I've used them all, and a ti-89 is the best calc I've ever used. It's easily worth $160.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

I'm surprised graphic calcs are allowed in college examinations, he only thing we're allowed to bring into exams here is the faculty standard scientific calculator. For doing homework and whatnot, Maple and matlab are usually better tools than a calculator.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

well we have rumours floating round that we can use them in exams, providing theres nothing programmed by you

im a 1st year mechanical engineering student so it would come in well handy. matricies take a frigging long time!

 

[qaa541]

TI-89, the best calculator ever invented. EVAR!!!1111oneoneone

Actually I do think it is the best calculator ever and I have used it all the way from HS AP Calculus (BC Exam) to present (4th year Information and Comptuer Science, lots of math in ICS)

The interface is so pretty and it is so easy to use. The pretty print and the symbolic manipulation is a godsend for checking your answers. But don't think of buying this calculator and then trying to just write down whatever it gives you symbollically. College expects you to show work and without work, you usually dont get any credit since any monkey can type an equation into a calculator.

 

[Sphexi]

I got a TI-83, never used it, sits in a box in my basement currently. I'm sure to some people it would've been useful, but I was a management major, so never needed it.

 

[Mo0o]

89. It'll cover HS through college with no problems. 83 will be underpowered for higher level math in colleges. And any other brand will be too esoteric for hs and most college applications.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

cool

well i might as well make use of the £ GBP to $ USD rates and buy the best. When i get to new york in a bout a month n abit ill be sure to drop in a BB or something and pickup the TI 89 titanium, coz in £ it will only cost me £70 odd ( TI 89 titanium is £144 here)

and itll last a good few years, and after looking at some of the apps they do for this thing i can see it coming in MWGA useful to quickly sort out complex problems

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: qaa541
TI-89, the best calculator ever invented. EVAR!!!1111oneoneone

Actually I do think it is the best calculator ever and I have used it all the way from HS AP Calculus (BC Exam) to present (4th year Information and Comptuer Science, lots of math in ICS)

The interface is so pretty and it is so easy to use. The pretty print and the symbolic manipulation is a godsend for checking your answers. But don't think of buying this calculator and then trying to just write down whatever it gives you symbollically. College expects you to show work and without work, you usually dont get any credit since any monkey can type an equation into a calculator.

yeah i know

ive heard we can use these in the maths exam, and im skeptical, it does give those with graphic calcs a massive edge,

ok they wont get marks at all for just writing the answer, but if they can derive working from the calculator ie finding the adjoint matrix as part of finding the inverse of a matrix then that helps, and also its serves as a means to check your answers to alot of things for the reasurrance that you got it right, or the fact that you actually have an numerical answer to work toward

 

[drnickriviera]

Do the Ti's do unit conversions? i.e lb to kg etc? That's one thing I love about my 48G

I still think reverse polish is superior

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: drnickriviera
Do the Ti's do unit conversions? i.e lb to kg etc? That's one thing I love about my 48G

I still think reverse polish is superior

They can with an App called SciTools I believe... Something like that, it's not native, but it comes with the new 83's at least. You can download it if you don't have it, so that's good.

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: Amplifier
I've used them all, and a ti-89 is the best calc I've ever used. It's easily worth $160.

QFT

I've never been more satisfied with an investment. Not a day goes by that I don't use it. Highly recommended.

 

[vegetation]

My vote is to pick up a TI-89 and move on. Eat the extra price, in the wider scope of things, putting an extra $50-$75 for your education, that will last you through your entirety (unless stolen) is CHEAP.

 

[markgm]

Having an 83, 86, 89, and 92, I can say that the 89 was the most useful in college. It came out my freshman year and was great because the 92 wasn't allowed to be used on a lot of exams because of the keyboard. I'm looking to pick up one of TI's Voyage calculators, only to realize have no use in the world for it.