Question for the engineers/math majors

[PowerMacG5]

My first semester of math is going to be multivariable calculus, because I placed out of Calc I and II. I was just curious, would engineers or math majors prefer the Ti-89 (regular or titanium, only diff is available memory) or HP49G+? I will be doing MV this semester, and then Diff eq next semester if it makes any difference. If you suggest one over the other, can you please give a reason?

Thanks in advance.

I am aware that you cannot use the calculator on exams, but I still would like to have one to demonstrate things to me. I already own the 89, but a lot of people have told me to look in to the HP.

 

[Heisenberg]

I :heart: my TI-89.

 

[xyion]

I used a TI-89 through college, however in most Math classes I was not allowed to use it [or any other calculator] on exams, so it was moot. I did use it in many EE class exams though.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

We use a faculty-standard scientific calc in class/exams Casio fx-something (no programmables allowed). For assignments we use more powerful programs like Maple and Matlab. You probably won't be using calculators much in upper-level calc classes btw, it's all symbolic analysis anyway. On my multivariable and Diff eq finals we weren't allowed calculators.

 

[JDub02]

Used the TI-89 through college. Came in real handy in Calc 3 since it could do 3 dimensional stuff. Also came in handy since you could play super mario bros. on it.

I never had a class that I wasn't allowed to use it.

 

[Legendary]

What's a calculator?
<---Math Major - hasn't used a calculator since he got to college

 

[eigen]

Well it s a toss up a lot of teachers won't allow the ti-89 on tests. So I would base it on whether or not you could use it on test.
But I do love the ti-89 so many fucntions.though I don't use it as much as I have moved up in my course levels.

I cant give you a reason for the ti-89 i just use it. Plus you really shouldnt be using ti that much in Mv unless you cant intergrate well.Most of mv is applying theorms (STOKES GREENS etc.....). DE is a different story.

What sort of Mathematics are you interested in Marauder911.

 

[Titan]

whichever one you are familiar with. I used TI-82's in HS and the TI-83 has the same layout. I never needed anything better for engineering classes. The newer calcs have way to many unnecessary features, unless you want to game on it.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
I :heart: my TI-89.

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: eigen
Well it s a toss up a lot of teachers won't allow the ti-89 on tests. So I would base it on whether or not you could use it on test.
But I do love the ti-89 so many fucntions.though I don't use it as much as I have moved up in my course levels.

I cant give you a reason for the ti-89 i just use it. Plus you really shouldnt be using ti that much in Mv unless you cant intergrate well.Most of mv is applying theorms (STOKES GREENS etc.....). DE is a different story.

What sort of Mathematics are you interested in Marauder911.

Well, I want to prepare for whats in store for Diff Eq as well. I know I cannot use either calc on tests, but like I mentioned, I would like to have one to demonstrate certain things. I am interested in all mathematics, and will pursue all the electives I can before I leave college.

 

[ucdbiendog]

i like my TI89. it does everything i need it to and i got it for less than 100 on ebay. im a mechancial engineering major FYI. I never used it for Dif Eq though. extremely useful for linear algebra (multivariable?)

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
We use a faculty-standard scientific calc in class/exams Casio fx-something (no programmables allowed). For assignments we use more powerful programs like Maple and Matlab. You probably won't be using calculators much in upper-level calc classes btw, it's all symbolic analysis anyway. On my multivariable and Diff eq finals we weren't allowed calculators.

The 89, and HP do symbolic manipulation. I know I will be using maple and mathematica and matlab as well, but having a calculator handy where you dont necessarily need the power of a computer is nice.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: tkotitan2
whichever one you are familiar with. I used TI-82's in HS and the TI-83 has the same layout. I never needed anything better for engineering classes. The newer calcs have way to many unnecessary features, unless you want to game on it.

I thought that, and I believed I could get by with my 83 until last sememster when I found my 83 couldn't manpulate matricies with complex numbers in them. Sure, I could have just doen it by hand, but I would have been at a disadvantage that way.

 

[Supermercado]

I wasn't an engineer or math major but I was CS. I didn't have much use for my TI-89 outside of the five math courses I took (and some of those didn't let us use the calculators, anyway) and the two physics classes. But if you're going to be using it a lot, I'd definitely recommend the TI-89.

 

[Darein]

I also use a TI-89, but I barely use it outside of EE classes, and even then it seems mostly to do relatively simple math. My math classes didn't allow calculators on the tests, and it wouldn't even be helpful on most of the DE homework.

 

[flot]

Wait until you get in the classes.

Some professors will have a preference for one over the other, and they may give out assignments that would strongly favor one over the other. In general I'd lean towards the TI, but I'd still wait. I have heard of professors/classes that insist on one type over another, in particular I'm pretty sure a friend of mine who was a civil engineer had to use an HP for some class.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Darein
I also use a TI-89, but I barely use it outside of EE classes, and even then it seems mostly to do relatively simple math. My math classes didn't allow calculators on the tests, and it wouldn't even be helpful on most of the DE homework.

True.
The DiffEq functionality of the 89 is limited to stuff you'll probably see for about the first six weeks, at which point the 89 then gives you a giant middle finger if you run any advanced DiffEqs thru it.

You might be able to use it in your EE classes. Probably won't in the math classes. And the EE class math will be simple for a couple of years. You prob. won't use any calculus in circuits and won't take any signals courses until your 3rd or fourth semester.

 

[0]

my husband teaches, and he doesn't allow calculators in his classes.

 

[zephyrprime]

Get the TI-2000. It is the champ.

 

[civad]

Casio FX 115 (?) thats what I used at in college and now at work. Since I take it to the field (Im a civil engineer) the model number has been wiped off. But I KNOW it's a casio

 

[Triumph]

1. Never allowed to use calc's on exams, and I learned better for it.
2. I didn't get a graphing calculator until after I finished all of my math classes (junior year). And I did just fine.

I don't know if either of the ones you are looking for will solve things for you, like integrals and diff eq. If they do, I really recommend that you don't get it. It will become a crutch and you'll become lazy. You sound like a smart guy, testing out of calc 1 and 2. You really won't need anything more than a scientific calc for diff and multi. The only thing I ever used my TI-83 for was for the matrix operations - it's good for solving multiple equations for multiple unknowns. Other than that, I never used my graphing calculator for anything more than multiplying and dividing.

 

[Dedpuhl]

Graduated in Civil Engineering and used a Sharp El-9300. That was all I needed.

I don't even remember using a calculator in DE and I rarely used one in MV Calc...

 

[jagec]

ti-89 > *

 

[jordank32]

for college you shouldn't need more than a calculator that adds/subtratcs/multiplies/ and divides
they don't allow much calc use

 

[toant103]

Originally posted by: Marauder911
My first semester of math is going to be multivariable calculus, because I placed out of Calc I and II. I was just curious, would engineers or math majors prefer the Ti-89 (regular or titanium, only diff is available memory) or HP49G+? I will be doing MV this semester, and then Diff eq next semester if it makes any difference. If you suggest one over the other, can you please give a reason?

Thanks in advance.

I am aware that you cannot use the calculator on exams, but I still would like to have one to demonstrate things to me. I already own the 89, but a lot of people have told me to look in to the HP.

check with your department.