Should i buy a Ti89 if i have Ti85?

PHiuR

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2001
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today was first day of school and my pre-calc teacher told us we will be needing a Ti89 and i am wondering if i should get one if my sister has a Ti85 and she wont be useing it... what are the differences in the 2 calcs? thanks
 
 

gwlam12

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2001
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i dont know the differences, but i went through calc with a ti85, and unless your teacher wants your ti89 to do the work for you, u wont be needing it.
 

palidor

Senior member
Apr 3, 2001
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i have both a ti85 and a ti89, and the difference between the two is HUGE. i could go on forever on why the 89 is soooooo much better.

the ti-89 is a godsend for math students. you're lucky that your teacher will even let you use it, it's so powerful that it's banned at most colleges.
 

RGN

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2000
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I didn't take calc in High School. In College, I went through Calc III. I used my TI-85 up until Calc III then bought the TI-89. I loved the 85, and didn't really want to change. However the 89 does freaking everything.


My suggestion is: If you really want to learn the material, use the 85. It will make a better student out of you. If you just want to get the answer easily without work, get the 89.
 

palidor

Senior member
Apr 3, 2001
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Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
Ti-89 = Solves for X

Need I say more?


so does the 85.. but the 85's equation solving is pretty limited.. the 89 can not only solve regular equations with one variable, it can solve systems of equations.. it can solve equations that have imaginary numbers.. all kinds of stuff :D
 

Heisenberg

Lifer
Dec 21, 2001
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The difference between the two is really big (I have both). The main difference is that the 89 will do things (integration and differention to start with) symbolically, while the 85 only does it numerically. (Symbolic integration is a godsend when I'm knee-deep in quantum mechanics homework) The 89 will also do a sh!tload more stuff, most of which you won't need in pre-calc. If you do get it, just be sure not to let it do the work for you.
 

A5

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2000
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You don't NEED a TI-89 for pre-calc. A TI-30 has everything you'd ever use in PRE-calc. For Calc I and Calc-based Physics, you'll need at least an 83. Your 85 should be fine for now...that being said, the TI-89 ownz j00.

If you're comfortable with E-Bay, you can get an 89 for about $100. (~$40 under retail.)
 

Mookow

Lifer
Apr 24, 2001
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Originally posted by: PHiuR
today was first day of school and my pre-calc teacher told us we will be needing a Ti89 and i am wondering if i should get one if my sister has a Ti85 and she wont be useing it... what are the differences in the 2 calcs? thanks

Yes! The Ti89 will quickly become your best friend
 

no0b

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
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You can always get a ti-89 emulator for while you are at home. Of course this wont help you on the tests but it will in the homework.
 

Semidevil

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2002
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why in the world would you need an 89 for pre calc?? What kind of material does the teacher want to teach??

but anyways, if the teacher says so, then I guess do what the teacher says. But to answer teh question, the 85 *should * be able to do what a typical pre-calc class covers(unless your teachers's idea of pre calc is integerals, Derivates, Differentail equations etc etc).

Yea, the 89 and 85 is like night and day. I had trouble gettng used to the 89 myself. W/ earlier calculators, you punch in a number and push the equal sign. w/ the 89, you go to file > blah > calculus > find Derivative etc etc etc. You work it like a computer program.

But if the teacher reccommends the 89 and is willing to take the time to teach it to you guys, then I would just get it if you plan on higher math.

btw, my pre calc covered Trigonometry and very very basic limits. Is that what your pre calc is??
 

brxndxn

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2001
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I had a TI-86 and bought a TI-89. The 89 is pretty amazing - but why the hell is a PRE CALC teacher saying you need a $140 calculator??? Math is best learned without a graphics calculator, IMO.

Once you get to college, most professors won't allow anything other than basic calculators.


BTW: IN PRECALC MEMORIZE THE UNIT CIRCLE!!! MEMORIZE THE UNIT CIRCLE!!! MEMORIZE THE UNIT CIRCLE!!! MEMORIZE THE UNIT CIRCLE!!!

trust me on that one
 

beer

Lifer
Jun 27, 2000
11,169
1
0
<strong>
BTW: IN PRECALC <STRONG>MEMORIZE THE UNIT CIRCLE!!! MEMORIZE THE UNIT CIRCLE!!! MEMORIZE THE UNIT CIRCLE!!! MEMORIZE THE UNIT CIRCLE!!!

</strong>trust me on that one


No truer words have ever been spoken.

With that in mind, MEMORIZE YOUR LOGARITHM RULES!

<--- having a very tough time in Calc II with basic stuff that I forgot over the summer, namely, log rules and parts of the unit circle.
 

beer

Lifer
Jun 27, 2000
11,169
1
0
Originally posted by: Elemental007

BTW: IN PRECALC <STRONG>MEMORIZE THE UNIT CIRCLE!!! MEMORIZE THE UNIT CIRCLE!!! MEMORIZE THE UNIT CIRCLE!!! MEMORIZE THE UNIT CIRCLE!!!

trust me on that one


No truer words have ever been spoken.

With that in mind, MEMORIZE YOUR LOGARITHM RULES!

<--- having a very tough time in Calc II with basic stuff that I forgot over the summer, namely, log rules and parts of the unit circle.