/sci/ - Science & Math

TI-84. You should have one left over from high school.

I am an international student studying abroad in the United States.

Didn't use graphing calculators in my highschool.

TI-83

a TI-83 or TI-84 should work great.

Either really, not much difference between them.

Casio 300fx or something like that. It's $12. I use it everyday, and I know that if it breaks, it won't be devastatingly expensive. It has a larger display that allows actual fractions, and entire operations laid out in one fell swoop.

I am looking at the wal-mart catalog. the TI-Nspire CX looks super ricey, but still more pleasing to work with. Would /sci/ recommend it?

>college
>algebra

choose one

HP50g

>>3635715

I expected /sci/ to be a little more civilized than /g/, but oh well...

Anyone able to respond >>3635703 ?

>>3635715

wat

>>3635703

I used the Ti-83 in high school up through calculus 1,2,3 and linear algebra, and then bought a nspire CX when it came out as a present to myself. Its an awesome calculator, but overkill for basic algebra. Get one if you want; but you don't need it.

>>3635727

*bought the nspire my freshman year in college, that is

normally I'd say an hp 48g series calculator or newer 50g
might take a bit of adjusting, but once you know your way around they're like swiss army knives of science

But honestly, if it's just for an algebra course and no further go with whatever's cheapest

>>3635723
I was trolling you. Don't take it to personally.

OP here.

This is my first semester in college and currently taking College Algebra.

I will still have to take Precalculus, Calculus I and Calculus II as they are required for CS, so a calculator that'd be of use for those courses would be good.

I do expect these kind of things to be costly so the price of the TI-Nspire CX didn't seem to be too out of this planet for me.

don't listen to those high schoolers OP.

Choose the TI-INSPIRE. It's by far the best one (I've tried them all).

plus it looks classy as fuck

i have a $210 graphing calculator

my school made me get it.

>>3635755

if you only plan on going through calc 2, you might want to stick with another non-nspire model. These calculators are rather powerful, and are able to solve on their own most problems presented in algebra/precalc/calculus, so there's a possibility of complecency if you pick a calculator that's too powerful.

>>3635755

Yes take the TI-INSPIRE. They are actually mandatory at my institution, because they cause the least amount of trouble, and they can do anything.

OP here.

My instructor said he didn't gave a fuck if we didn't get a calculator at all, just that it'd be a lot more convenient and easy for us if we had one.

>>3635781

wow...

Community college?

>>3635781
In most universities, for lower division math classes, calculators are prohibited on tests.

>>3635781

You cannot do advanced integrals if you don't have a good calculator.

>>3635789

Well the first day of class, we were told "It's of course important to know how to do these problems by hand, but if you have a calculator, you will of course be allowed to use it on tests."

>>3635788

Not sure if community college. It's part of the UT system, but will be splitting away from it soon.

Summarizing, the TI-Nspire CX would be a good choice then?

And if not, the TI-83 or the TI-84 would as well do, if I understood right.

>>3635820

The TI-83 and 84 can't hold their own against the Nspire. Choose the TI-Nspire CX, you won't regret it.

>>3635715
>implying I'm not a graduate student taking Algebra

>>3635820

Why the CX? The CAS is much more reliable.

Get a netbook

Install Debian, Sage, iPython, SciPy, and gnumeric

>>3635868

What's the difference between the CX and the CAS?

>>3635880

the CAS is excellent for integrals, differentiating, graphs. Just in general very good at analyzing lots of data for you.

While the CX is basically TI-Nspire MAC. It looks more fancy it is thinner, and it has got 3D graphing.

>>3635892

You won't need 3D graphing in college.

Forget the graphing calculator if it's not required. You should learn to visualize in your head.

>>3635877
>not mathematica

Ubuntu + Mathematica + NumPy + Geany = Master Race

>>3635908

The TI-Nspire CAS is only a third of the CX. And it is worth almost the same. Plus it's like 50$

Not just entering equations into Wolframalpha and borrowing your friends calculator when you need to take a test or something

I don't quite understand, in the wal-mart catalog I have found CX and CX CAS, you mean there's a TI-Nspire CAS without the CX?

>>3635792
No. You can only do advanced integrals without it.

Don't get a calculator. It's a waste of money. If you already have a computer, then you have a calculator and it's better than anything else on the market. Just install proper software.

>>3635926

yes that's right.

>>3635927

you have obviously never done any advanced integrals.

integrating 3*ln(x)*e^x is easy, that is simple integrating. But when you get to something like sin(squareroot(1/x)) it actually cannot be done without a calculator. It is quite impossible.

Harrumph. Back in the day, we learned our algebra by hand, graphing it on graph paper. (I'm 26.)

I can't believe you retards still buy calculators when everyone has laptops.

>>3635906
>Ubuntu
>Geany

how pleb, enjoying your newbie shit I take it?

>>3635942
you obviously don't do analysis. all those integrals are simple if machines already solve them.

Picture is simple integrals. All other can't actually be done by hand (ask your professor).

>>3635955
<span class="math">x e^x[/spoiler]

So going back to the main topic. I now understand there are three types of TI-Nspire:

CAS, CX and CX CAS.


I haven't found the first one in the walmart's catalog so I am going more for the CX.

>>3635967

what?

>>3635955
In my days, we integrated exp(x).sin^4(x) by hand.
Those kids today.

Also, all we can use during exams is a TI-34. The most advanced operation it can do is an arctangent.

>>3635972
Integration by parts.

>>3635982

what is your point?

ITT Retards who haven't made the connection that calculators are just dumbed down computers.

>>3636010
it's not about the calculator jerk, it's about the software. I don't use a separate calculator, but I use the software of TI-Nspire CAS on my laptop.

OP here.

Most educated derailing I have ever witnessed at 4chan.

>>3636015
>I use the software of TI-Nspire CAS on my laptop
lolololol
There's better software: free and pirateable.
Damn suckers just gotta throw away money.

>>3636040

I did not actually spend any money on the software.

>>3636042
Yet still endorsing shitty software when there's free, better software.
The gay level is over 9000

>>3636062

it's not shitty at all, even the professors here all use the TI-Nspire CAS. You're talking out of your ass.

>>3636081
Nope
Professors I know only bother with mathematica or maple if they use any software at all.
Here's a rundown on some of what's out there:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_computer_algebra_systems
faggotry

do they let you use laptops on test days? i would assume not. reason enough to buy a calc.

>>3636121

At my institution you are allowed to use laptops on EVERY test. But you're being supervised by several professors and if you're caught cheating you're instantly banned.

>>3636121
no calcs either
if you need a calc to do test problems designed to be solved without calc, then you fail hard

OP here.

I would use my laptop, but as it is 17.3", it isn't exactly something portable you'd be able to bring to a test.

Yes, I regret having bought such a gigantic laptop.