Is a Ti-83 good enough for a Trig class?

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Trig? A scientific calculator is plenty, in fact, some sine/cosine tables and a 4-function would be enough.
 

FleshLight

Diamond Member
Mar 18, 2004
6,883
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71
For trig I would use a TI-89 Titanium at the very least. When finding the sin of complex angles such as 180, its processing power is very helpful.
 

JoeFahey

Platinum Member
Jan 15, 2005
2,163
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Overkill. If you were planning on buying one just for a trig class, then don't buy it.

Also, the numbers don't necessarily mean how good they are from what I have heard. So a TI86 is not necessarily better than a TI-83
 

thesurge

Golden Member
Dec 11, 2004
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Err.. TI-83 should be plenty for most math classes you take. It worked fine in multivariable calc, and modern algebra (maybe some mathematical modeling courses require an 89 but not much else). Also, you can just dl programs if you really need those extra features (which I doubt you will in introductory trig class). And the TI-83 is practically equal to the TI-84.
 

amol

Lifer
Jul 8, 2001
11,680
3
81
Originally posted by: tfinch2
Calculators are needed for Trig?

Not necessarily needed, but they make doing certain things a lot faster.

I'm actually thankful that my Trig teacher gave us non-calculator tests as well as calculator tests, both of which were tests where we actually had to know what we were doing and couldn't use a calculator to sneak out.
 

EarthwormJim

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 2003
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Well honestly depends how far you intend to go in math.

If you intend to continue with it and go to upper level, I'd buy a Ti-89 so you dont have to buy a second calculator (well not have to, but it makes life easier).
 

TheoPetro

Banned
Nov 30, 2004
3,499
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if you plan on going through calc 3 and into ordinary differential equations and partial and past that then I would grab an 89. A trig class you wont need more than a scientific one.
 

reverend boltron

Senior member
Nov 18, 2004
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Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
Well honestly depends how far you intend to go in math.

If you intend to continue with it and go to upper level, I'd buy a Ti-89 so you dont have to buy a second calculator (well not have to, but it makes life easier).

I would stay away from a Ti-89 actually. Most teachers will only allow you to use Ti-84's on tests, everything else is too powerful.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Originally posted by: reverend boltron
Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
Well honestly depends how far you intend to go in math.

If you intend to continue with it and go to upper level, I'd buy a Ti-89 so you dont have to buy a second calculator (well not have to, but it makes life easier).

I would stay away from a Ti-89 actually. Most teachers will only allow you to use Ti-84's on tests, everything else is too powerful.

This is true. I got screwed on the calculator portion of the calc final. My teacher made me put away my TI-89 and use one of her TI-83s, which I had no idea how to operate.
 

Toastedlightly

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2004
7,213
6
81
Originally posted by: Leros
Originally posted by: reverend boltron
Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
Well honestly depends how far you intend to go in math.

If you intend to continue with it and go to upper level, I'd buy a Ti-89 so you dont have to buy a second calculator (well not have to, but it makes life easier).

I would stay away from a Ti-89 actually. Most teachers will only allow you to use Ti-84's on tests, everything else is too powerful.

This is true. I got screwed on the calculator portion of the calc final. My teacher made me put away my TI-89 and use one of her TI-83s, which I had no idea how to operate.

lol, Ti-89's are the ultimate calc tool. Ever.
 

TheoPetro

Banned
Nov 30, 2004
3,499
1
0
Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
Originally posted by: Leros
Originally posted by: reverend boltron
Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
Well honestly depends how far you intend to go in math.

If you intend to continue with it and go to upper level, I'd buy a Ti-89 so you dont have to buy a second calculator (well not have to, but it makes life easier).

I would stay away from a Ti-89 actually. Most teachers will only allow you to use Ti-84's on tests, everything else is too powerful.

This is true. I got screwed on the calculator portion of the calc final. My teacher made me put away my TI-89 and use one of her TI-83s, which I had no idea how to operate.

lol, Ti-89's are the ultimate calc tool. Ever.

they are sexy as hell in ODE
 

TheChort

Diamond Member
May 20, 2003
4,203
0
76
IMHO a Ti-83 should cover most people comfortably through the first year of college calc

edit: and like most people said above, for trig, a simple scientific calc is enough $10
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
brain>calculator, esp in stuff like trig, its almost unimportant, its jsut that the teacher will probably make u use it
 

CellarDoor

Golden Member
Aug 31, 2004
1,574
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I took three years of calculus and the graphing calculator I was told I "needed" rotted in my backpack. I never needed to use it once.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
ti's got a good thing going on, virtual monopoly in schools. course the lack of competition kinda shows, their products would probably be alot nicer by now if there were true competition
 

cmdrmoocow

Golden Member
Jul 22, 2004
1,503
0
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TI-84's are functionally equivalent to an 83p, but have much more memory and a usb connector. Whether or not you should upgrade it depends on how much extra you'll spend. If it's only 5$ or so, it might be worth the hassle.

Either way, if you only plan to use it for this class, don't bother. And if you plan to use it much later, wait until you're taking that class to get one - the prices of 89 titaniums will come down even farther.

--

I did forget to add - if you are inclined to programming at all, get an 83/84 to play around with in class. Great learning tool for both programming and math.
 

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
1
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Originally posted by: Leros
Originally posted by: reverend boltron
Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
Well honestly depends how far you intend to go in math.

If you intend to continue with it and go to upper level, I'd buy a Ti-89 so you dont have to buy a second calculator (well not have to, but it makes life easier).

I would stay away from a Ti-89 actually. Most teachers will only allow you to use Ti-84's on tests, everything else is too powerful.

This is true. I got screwed on the calculator portion of the calc final. My teacher made me put away my TI-89 and use one of her TI-83s, which I had no idea how to operate.

Definately grab the 89. It'll come in handy in the long run (calculus, etc), but make sure you know how to operate an 83 as well just in case something like this happens.

Reason I'm saying grab an 89 is that it's also a learning/experimenting tool. By "messing around" with stuff you can figure out concepts more easily (like understanding diffrentiation rules) - it doesn't show you the steps but it certainly gets you the answer.

One more thing... for the SATs you're pretty much GUARANTEED a 750 or up with an 89! The SOLVE and FACTOR functions pretty much DO it all for you. Just don't get too lazy or it'll come back and bite you in the ass.

To answer your question, yes, an 83 would suffice, but I'd Thoroughly recommend an 89.
 

secretanchitman

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2001
9,352
23
91
ti-84 plus is what i have, just a "faster" processor and more ram, as well as a resdesign with a usb port!

thats all, you arent missing much.