Calculators?

[EricH]

I'm assuming that almost everyone here has a calculator. So, here's the question: What do you use, and what is your best tip for it?

Explanation: What kind of calculator (include the model, if possible) do you use? What tip or advice would you offer to a beginner on the calculator?

Go ahead and make comments on how your experience with someone else's calculator type was (if you had one), include all the goodies, or tell how many you have. Or anything else that would further the discussion.
_______

One of my calculators (the one I use most often right now): TI 84 Plus Silver. Tip: Be careful on entering data for graphing. Enter it wrong and you get an error or a wrong graph (painful experience earlier today ).

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

I use a variety of calculators.

TI-89: A phenomenal machine. Not acceptable on ACTs, highschool kids. I personally recommend starting on a TI-83 or a TI-84 before you delve into 89, because it's an incredibly powerful calculator with some stuff that is more user-friendly, but other stuff that's more complicated. High on my recommendation list.

Tip: If you're new to TI's...you might have a lot of fun with the graphing interface. Lots of options, so get to know it well.

TI-84+: This is an awesome calculator. I am more comfortable with it than my TI-89, just because I like the layout a bit better and some of the functionality. It's suitable for ACTs which is a plus, and it serves as my "at-home" calculator. It is EXTREMELY user-friendly, but powerful.

Tip: This is a great backup calculator. There's not much I can specifically say on tips, it's just very functional.

TI-83, TI-86: I don't really use these two anymore. Neither tops off the 89 or 84 in anything. It's a nice beginning, and a bit less expensive, but the power isn't up to par with 84 or 89.

Tip: If you're not used to TI's it's a decently cheap place to start (relative to 89)

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Eugenia Gabrielov

TI-89: A phenomenal machine. Not acceptable on ACTs, highschool kids. I personally recommend starting on a TI-83 or a TI-84 before you delve into 89, because it's an incredibly powerful calculator with some stuff that is more user-friendly, but other stuff that's more complicated. High on my recommendation list.

It's a really useful calculator... but most college professors won't allow you to use them on an exam (assuming they allow you to use calculators at all).

I use a -89, -83, and an old HP 12c calculator (for some reason, RPN has grown on me for simple math)

[Denman]

i have the one that was just before the one that clark gilbert posted (the casio one)
very good especially once you get to learn it
i've lost the manual and the cover (i must have had it a good 7 or 8 years now)
Learn your way around it ad its godlike!
i also have this colour graphics calculator (casio fx something or other power colour graphic)
i really can't find it online. Its sitting on my desk in my hall as i have no need for it today. you can get support for it online and transfer programs off your pc into the calculator. Sadly i'm not allowed it in about half my exams but hey.
Tip
Learn where the functions are, there are so many its all catergorized
otherwise, here on the uni pcs there is the godlike math program of Maple 10

[KTorak]

I like my TI-84+, it's a good calculator (use it in Honors Algebra II currently).

Best tip....ztris is a fun Tetris game to play when you're bored in class...lol. Actually, my best tip would be find someone who knows how to use it and have them teach your basic functions, becuase some things the your obviously expect are well hidden, and theres a lot of functions that most people have no idea that their calculator can do.

[Katie Reynolds]

Really, it depends what you're going to be doing with your calculator - I'm lovin' my TI-89. It's pretty easy to use, and the graphing interface is awesome.

Before that, I had a TI-83+ that worked great for me ... until I lost it. The reason I upgraded to an 89 when I needed a new calculator was because I was leaving for college in a year, and knew I would be taking a few math-intensive courses. The 89 was only $35 more than the 83+, so it was well worth it (to me).

If you're just going into high school, you'll be great with a TI-83 Silver Edition. There are a lot of cool things the come with that one (including more memory than a regular 83 and a periodic table for chem! oooh!) If you're in college - or close to it - I'd recommend an 89.

Tip: If you get a TI of any kind, check out the (free) extra programs on Texas Instruments' website you can download. My favorite is the polynomial equation solver (works great for quickly solving the quadratic equation!) - you can also download games, but there isn't a *whole* lot of memory, so if you have a lot of games you might not be able to fit a lot of good, usable programs. Oh, and any of the "silver"/"platinum" editions of TIs have more memory than the "regular" models.

[Clark Gilbert]

Originally Posted by EricH

I'm assuming that almost everyone here has a calculator. So, here's the question: What do you use, and what is your best tip for it?

Explanation: What kind of calculator (include the model, if possible) do you use? What tip or advice would you offer to a beginner on the calculator?

Go ahead and make comments on how your experience with someone else's calculator type was (if you had one), include all the goodies, or tell how many you have. Or anything else that would further the discussion.
_______

One of my calculators (the one I use most often right now): TI 84 Plus Silver. Tip: Be careful on entering data for graphing. Enter it wrong and you get an error or a wrong graph (painful experience earlier today ).

I just picked this one up a few semesters ago and I LOVE it. It's a Casio Fx-300MS (dual line display & two way power). It's cheaper than most Texas Instruments and the keys are easy to read and use.
http://world.casio.com/edu/product/c...up_fx300ms.jpg

My best tip for this calculator is use the parenthesis so you can calculate long equations all at once and the "replay" function is awesome for going back and checking what you did on other calculations. This calculator works with statistics, but data entry is MUCH easier with a TI-83(84,89).

[Andrew Blair]

[quote=Clark Gilbert]I just picked this one up a few semesters ago and I LOVE it. It's a Casio Fx-300MS (dual line display & two way power). It's cheaper than most Texas Instruments and the keys are easy to read and use.
http://world.casio.com/edu/product/c...up_fx300ms.jpg

Yeah buddy!! I have the same thing in an earlier model, but basically the same calculator. An absolute workhorse since 7th grade. And casio has a much better input order than the TI's.

[Clark Gilbert]

[quote=Andrew Blair]

Originally Posted by Clark Gilbert

I just picked this one up a few semesters ago and I LOVE it. It's a Casio Fx-300MS (dual line display & two way power). It's cheaper than most Texas Instruments and the keys are easy to read and use.
http://world.casio.com/edu/product/c...up_fx300ms.jpg

Yeah buddy!! I have the same thing in an earlier model, but basically the same calculator. An absolute workhorse since 7th grade. And casio has a much better input order than the TI's.

Yah, the thing is pretty sweet, I forgot to mention I also had the earlier model back in 7th (or 6th grade), but somehow it disappeared. Best calculator around!...lol

[JoeXIII'007]

I'm proud to say that I use a TI-81. Got it for $2 at a yard sale and it runs WONDERFULLY!

Though you know, I'm looking for an upgrade.

[Denman]

thats the one
Casio CFX-9850G
they sold them cheap through the school as they bought bulk

[Ashley Weed]

I'm not sure where you currently are in your education. However, I started to use a TI-89 in high school, and it became "god" to me. I was able to do practically everything on that calculator from Algebra - Calculus. Then when I came to Penn State, the mathematics department DOES NOT allow calculators. I was behind everyone else very quickly, as I had depended on my calculator for years. I also have a TI-30***...... If I were you, and you actually need a calculator, save some money, get a $10 TI-**, and learn how to do the math, it will pay off in the long run.

[Denman]

Originally Posted by Ashley Weed

I'm not sure where you currently are in your education.

just started uni 3 weeks ago

[JamesBrown]

I have my TI-30xa which I use for chemistry, It works but is less than ideal.

My TI-83+ The calculator I have used every day since 8th grade I know that calculator inside and out, This is the one I use on Standardized tests and any where else it is permitted it makes it extremely easy to check answers

My TI-89 I am learning to use so I can have it in college and beyond, It has more potential than the 83+ but I am not as comfortable with it yet. I use it for home work on occasion but never during tests, time is too limited during tests to have to search for a function.

My advice to any one is to learn math the way my teacher teaches it, She teaches us the theroms and how to do it all out, I can do anything from Basic math through Pre Calc (and what ive learned so far in calc) without any calculator. She then shows us how to do it on our Graphics calculator. This is very helpful, it allows us to check solutions and do the work faster when necessary. Knowing how to do calculations both ways puts you in a great place on standardized tests it prevents you from wasting time. Also learn basic and program formulas into your calculator, These are extremely helpul in checking quadratic roots and other simple calculations that errors are frequently made on.

[Kyle Love]

I have a TI-84+Silver edition. I figured I would just wait to buy an 89 until I could actually use it. (After ACT/SAT) I love the one I have. It is reallllllly easy to use once you play around with it. The puzzle pack is espeacially fun when you are done with stuff in class.

Tip- Just play around with it and see what stuff does.