Originally posted by: Dudd
Originally posted by: yoda291
depends....do you NEED a graphing calculator? I was supposed to have NEEDED one in calc, but I think I used it once for an in-class demonstration of something or other and never touched it afterwards
How the hell did you make it through calc using a graphing calculator only once? I use mine every day in class, and on tests that calculators are allowed on, it saves tons of time.
In calculus, we either solved problems that demonstrated concepts and solution methods(ie, where figures worked out exactly) or the solution was irrational. Actually, once I hit calc 3, all the answers were expressed in terms of variables, vectors, etc. A graphing calculator doesn't really help once you get past calc 1, and even then, you usually won't need it unless your professor is using equations randomly generated from the top of his head to teach. IMO, a graphing calculator is really a crutch that hinders learning the concepts in favor of creating an answer. In HS calc, we could use calculators too, but I found I was quicker without one because the concepts learned made the problems intuitive to solve.