recommend a calculator for the PE exam

[Maximus96]

i signed up to take the civil PE this april. i don't have a 'fancy' calculator. which one should i get to help me with the PE exam? HP or TI?

 

[Jassi]

The engineers I know prefer the HP, or used to. Any choice is good, the important part is knowing how to use them.

 

[Maximus96]

evidently i don't have a lot to choose from, only the following are allowed in the exam

Hewlett Packard ? HP 33s
Hewlett Packard ? HP 9s
Casio ? 115 MS and 115 MS Plus
Texas Instruments ? TI 30X IIS and TI 30X IIB
Texas Instruments ? TI 36X

all others are banned.

 

[KingNothing]

Wow, that's a pretty limited list. As far as I know, HP calculators use reverse polish notation whereas TIs use standard notation. I've never used RPN but I like standard just fine.

The most important thing really is to learn how to use your calculator. Make a decision soon, buy the calculator, and practice for your exam with it until April.

 

[Maximus96]

i think i'll get the HP 33s, only because it seems a bit more advanced than the hp 9s. i was initially thinking of choosing between a HP 48g or TI 89 or something...

 

[dethman]

calculator for phys ed eh?

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: KingNothing
Wow, that's a pretty limited list. As far as I know, HP calculators use reverse polish notation whereas TIs use standard notation. I've never used RPN but I like standard just fine.

The most important thing really is to learn how to use your calculator. Make a decision soon, buy the calculator, and practice for your exam with it until April.

I despise RPN. I had to code an RPN calculator for a lab once. Simple task - SATANIC CALCULATOR.

 

[sciencewhiz]

What calculator do you use normally? Get an approved one that is as similar to what you already use as possible. The "fancy ones" will only hurt you between now and then.

If you've never used RPN, 3 months is barely enough time to become fluent in it, without making time consuming mistakes which will kill you on the PE exam.

 

[Maximus96]

i have a TI -36s that i've used through college. i suppose it should be closely similar to the TI 36x. i have heard from many people that they think HP's are better, my boss included.

 

[The Sauce]

If you need a calculator for Phys Ed, you are doing something seriously wrong.

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz

If you've never used RPN, 3 months is barely enough time to become fluent in it, without making time consuming mistakes which will kill you on the PE exam.

its really that difficult to learn? perhaps i need to re-think this

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: Snatchface
If you need a calculator for Phys Ed, you are doing something seriously wrong.

you probably do not have the intellectual capability of understanding the purpose of this thread.

 

[Anonemous]

good luck on your professional eng exam.

 

[sciencewhiz]

Originally posted by: zaku

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz

If you've never used RPN, 3 months is barely enough time to become fluent in it, without making time consuming mistakes which will kill you on the PE exam.

its really that difficult to learn? perhaps i need to re-think this

I made the transition to RPN about 3 years ago, in my junior year of college.

The concept of RPN isn't hard. You'll be doing the basic operations immediately. It's like learning any language, though. First you can say a few words (operations), then you start to understand the grammar and learn new words. It's not until you live in the country and spoken the languange nonstop for several months that you start to think in the language.

The problem with the PE exam is that you don't have time to struggle over anything. It's the hardest, most pressure packed, fastest test you've ever taken. If in a single moment you see it written 2+2= and type it in, you'll mess up your entire stack. If you're really comfortable, you'll be able to fix it with a few seconds lost. If you're not, it may be minutes.

Basically, the PE doesn't leave any room for error. If you aren't thinking in RPN, you have plenty of room for error.


BTW, you should have known from his name that snatchface doesn't have the mental capacity for this thread.

 

[MacBaine]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: KingNothing
Wow, that's a pretty limited list. As far as I know, HP calculators use reverse polish notation whereas TIs use standard notation. I've never used RPN but I like standard just fine.

The most important thing really is to learn how to use your calculator. Make a decision soon, buy the calculator, and practice for your exam with it until April.

I despise RPN. I had to code an RPN calculator for a lab once. Simple task - SATANIC CALCULATOR.

Some people struggle with RPN... that's ok.