/sci/ - Science & Math

[Anonymous No.4470841]

So hey math people, need some opinions about calculators.

I have a TI-83, and it came to my attention recently that it's a bit outdated. I figured if I was going to upgrade, I might as well get one of the more top of the line ones, so I was looking at either the TI-89 or the TI-Nspire CX CAS. I've heard pros and cons about both, and I've even heard that I should just get a TI-84+ and that I wouldn't need anything more advanced than that.

I figured I'd ask people who know more about this stuff than me, so any opinions?

[Anonymous No.4470849]

>>4470841
>2012
>using a calculator
Ishygddt

[Anonymous No.4470844]

>>4470841
Also I'm looking into electrical engineering as my major, so if anyone has experience with that, feel free to chime in.

[Anonymous No.4470859]

TI-84+ is what I've had for the past few years. It really seems anything higher is really flashy. The TI-84+ does everything you'd ever need, but it might be as intuitive as a more expensive, better calculator.

[Raoul Duke No.4470869]

comp sci major here, just food for thought, you won't be able to use anything above that 83 you currently have in any uni math classes. i bought an 89 and learned the hard way.

(for what its worth, the 89 is pretty legit)

[Anonymous No.4470872]

>>4470859
I might just end up doing that, actually, my physics teacher here said the same thing.

[Anonymous No.4470882]

>>4470859
It doesn't do calc or have 3D abilities like the 89ti, nor does it have diffeq and organizational capabilities like nspire series.

[Anonymous No.4470889]

TI-Nspire CX CAS

I have the regular Nspire CAS, and it is the best calculator I have ever owned. So much better than the 83, 84, or 89. It is amazingly useful, even more than those lower TI models.

[Anonymous No.4470901]

>Real and complete computer
>Internet
>Yourself
>Best combo known to man

[Anonymous No.4470909]

if you don't mind not being able to use it for exams, get the 89 or the CX. Otherwise stick with the 83, or an 84+ if you're dying to spend money.

[Anonymous No.4470913]

>>4470901
Agreed.
Just buy a netbook and smack on Maple/Mathematica.

I play around with a whole bunch of calculators on a virtual machine. I find the Nspire CAS the best one.

[Anonymous No.4470926]

Just get a Ti-83. You will not need a calculator past first year of your undergrad. If anything get one of these maple/mathematica/python/Matlab depending on your school.

[Anonymous No.4470936]

isn't the ti-83 and ti-84+ basically the same thing?

the ti-83 has a slightly shittier shape, but any programs available for the 84+ were also available for the 83.

[Anonymous No.4470953]

>>4470936
Basically, yeah.

The 84 has a faster CPU speed and more memory. It also comes with a cable when you buy it.

[Anonymous No.4471043]

So I think I'm looking at the 84+ for an actual calculator, and if I want to try the 89 or CX CAS I'll try out those programs/virtual calculators/whatever, thanks!

[Anonymous No.4471075]

>>4471043
No problem. Enjoy your purchase.

To make a note, the Casio fx-9860GII is a lot cheaper and offers about the same capability as the 84+, but doesn't come with as much community support (user-made programs).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TsEgvz5iYc

--
A fellow anon told me about:
http://www.bachcompany.com

You can get a significant discount on calculator prices.

[Anonymous No.4471092]

>>4471075
Ooh thanks, I'll give those a look.

[Anonymous No.4471177]

This is the only calculator you will need or be allowed to use in most physics/math classes past first year, if they even allow you to use one. For anything more advanced use Maple/Mathematica/Matlab and the like.

[Anonymous No.4471188]

>>4471177
>that shitty high school calculator
For fuck sakes at least use an actual scientific calculator. Jesus fucking christ.

[Anonymous No.4471192]

>>4471177
that thing is even enough for a phd outside of physics maths or engineerin

[Anonymous No.4471198]

>>4471177
OP, dont listen to this asshole. The TI-30 is a really bad calculator that feels antiquated. Only trolls or senile old men would suggest the use of that garbage. Use a casio fx series or the ti-30 or ti-36 series. The FE exam only lets you use them for the exams so learn to use them.

[Anonymous No.4471204]

>>4471192
>engineerin
You went full retard. You will use that piece of shit if you want to make your life a living hell. We eengineers use the best tools we have at out dispossals. We use actual calculators not some High school toy.

[Anonymous No.4471207]

>>4471188
>numerical integrals
Whats the point of that? The hard part of integrations is the symbolic part.

[Anonymous No.4471208]

>calculators
>becoming outdated
No, OP. Just no.
Not unless you're using something that's literally the size of a brick or unless it can't to trig functions

[Anonymous No.4471212]

>>4471177
One question, is that piece of shit /sci/'s equivalent to /a/'s boku no pico or /g/'s install gentoo? Because no one in my college uses that calculator, at least not for long.

[Anonymous No.4471211]

>>4471188

That piece of shit works fine. There's no need to spend money on a superior calculator when you have all the basic functions you will need on a math/physics test

[Anonymous No.4471216]

>>4471212
What do they allow for use at your college?
Here in Canada, you're only allowed standardised calculators, and they can't come with derivative/integral functions.

[Anonymous No.4471217]

>>4471211
Can the ti-30 solve linear equations?

[Anonymous No.4471223]

>>4471217
No, but those scientific calculators have built-in functions for that.

And the point of the test would be to evaluate the user's ability to solve linear equations, not see if they'd know how to use a calculator.

[Anonymous No.4471224]

>>4471216
Depends on the profesor, most of them let us use any calculator as long as its not one of the programmable ones. Some let us use the real heavy hitters like the Ti-89 but they are rare. Also the NCEES FE let us use ti-36 or the cassio fx115 series so there's really no need on using an old model like the ti-30.

[Anonymous No.4471225]

>>4471217

It might not be able to solve linear equations but if you're being asked to solve a linear equation on a test you will be asked to show the work and not just plug it in. If you're doing your own work you can just as easily use Mathematica to solve your linear equations/DE's/integrals

[Anonymous No.4471227]

>>4471223
Well in electrical eenginering we deal with lots of linear equations so using a good calculator makes our work much quicker so we dont have to waste time using Kramer or Gaussian elimination.

[Anonymous No.4471231]

Most profs will let you use nothing more advanced than a scientific calculator. The TI-30xa fits the bill and is cheap and easy to find

[Anonymous No.4471233]

>>4471227

For engineering you might be able to use a graphing calculator, but for most physics/math classes you will only be allowed a scientific calculator

[Anonymous No.4471234]

your prof will state which calculator / math software you will be using. There's no need to buy one if what you have is okay. $80 for the right calc is nothing when you're dumping $400 on books anyways.

I've only had one class that didn't use the TI-83 and it was a lame-o statistics class. The only difference between the 83 and the 83+ is double the memory, and one stats function.

[Anonymous No.4471236]

>>4471231
For a few bucks more you can buy a Casio fx-115. I would really suggest for you to try it. It has more built in fucntions and even haves SI units prefixes. It just have small things that makes it better than the old Ti-30.

[Anonymous No.4471245]

>>4471233
Some profs dont like us using graphical calculator because they think we will put an entire textbook in it.

Besides we engineers tend to like calculators so we usually have at least a scientific one and a graphical one.

[Anonymous No.4471247]

>>4471236

Might have to give it a try. The point I was trying to make is that there's no reason to go spend a lot of money on a graphing calculator when any old scientific calculator will do for physics/math classes

[Anonymous No.4471250]

>>4471247
Well in reality maths class dont really need a calculator. Physics on the other hand might because they tend to ask for numerical answers and if the professor does not use easy numbers it might be a bit awkward to calculate them.

[Anonymous No.4471258]

>>4470841
Buy a Ti-89 and get some decent math software on your smartphone. The 89 looks enough like an 84 that professors will let you use it on tests without realizing you can use engineering programs, load shitloads of text notes onto it, etc. They ain't letting you use a T-inspire on a test.

[Anonymous No.4471262]

>>4471250

Exactly, most of the profs for the math classes I've taken have not allowed us to use a calculator and a few physics profs have not allowed us to use calculators in their classes either

[Anonymous No.4471264]

OP if you are an Engineer buy a Ti-89 and a Casio Fx-115ES. Buy the Casio first but have the Ti-89 on reserver, you might never known when a professor might let you use it.

[Anonymous No.4471269]

>>4471262
Yeah calculators are important if you study aplied maths or get into engineering. Physics gets symbolic really fast and Pure Maths as well.

[Anonymous No.4471274]

>>4471262
I've never once had a professor who noticed that my Ti89 was in fact not a Ti84. They see the general shape and the dark color and don't give it a second glance. Nice when you can punch things into the equation solver, get exact answers instead of decimals, etc.

[Anonymous No.4471278]

For what it's worth, I've usually been told that I can use any calculator without a QWERTY keyboard on my tests. Algebraic calculators are generally banned, esp. in Algebra classes.

[Anonymous No.4471285]

>>4470841

TI-89 is a God tier calculator. 5th year electrical engineer here.

[Anonymous No.4471333]

>>4471285
lol you cant be serious

[Anonymous No.4471630]

No mention of Casio class pad 330?? Its a top notch calculator

[Anonymous No.4471633]

Have done (almost) 4 years of physics and never once used a calculator in class. Any difficult problem that requires a calculator is much better solved via wolfram alpha or similar. They never put test questions that are difficult integrations and other nonsense on my tests. I believe I did borrow a friends TI-89 for one test and didn't use it.

[Anonymous No.4471645]

I went to UCSD. Six quarters of math, four of physics, never once allowed to use a calculator on a test. Also was not allowed to use then in statics, dynamics, or partial differential equations.