| Author | Comment |
theshonen8899
Probe
Posted: 9 Sep 2007
01:32 GMT
Total Posts: 3 | Before I begin...I'm sorry if I'm bothering any of you guys who hate dumb questions...I swear I searched.
I'm a junior whos in pre-calculus and just bought a TI-84SE. I bought it because my friend told me that I would need it for precal this year. I compared all the calculators on the chart over at the official texas instrument site and decided the TI-84SE would be the best because it had pre-loaded precal apps and sat flashcards.
Now apparently my friend was in precal honors, and I'm taking cp. The way our school handles the honors class is that the second half of it is all calculus to help prep the students for calculus BC. So while a graphing calculator was mandatory for precal honors...it wasn't needed for cp, I could've stuck with my TI-30Xa...
My courses next year may either be AP calculus or AP statistics or maybe even both because I'm thinking about a computer science major. As far as I know, almost everyone who has had anything other than a TI-89 in calculus eventually switched to the 89 before the ap test... So I basically wasted my money on a calculator that I didn't need.
Can I upgrade the TI-84SE with proper applications for calculus AP? I know I can get by the class with this calculator but I just feel like I've wasted so much. My friend kept saying how big of a difference there was. Should I just try to sell it on ebay and get the 89 next year? It looks completely new and very pretty :D. It might be fun to do all that programming stuff too.
Thank you guys so much |
Zachary940
Wraith
Posted: 9 Sep 2007
05:01 GMT
Total Posts: 714 | Yes you can upgrade your calc. The 84 has everything that you will need. The 89 just has a few more bells and whistles.
The best thing about TI calcs is that 99% of all apps are free. Keep in mind that the 84 and 89 are programmable.
You did good on getting the 84. I wouldn't worry about upgrading.
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It is much easier to suggest solutions when you know nothing about the problem. |
allynfolksjr
Administrator
Posted: 9 Sep 2007
11:12 GMT
Total Posts: 1892 | I disagree which Zachary940 on this.
While the TI-84+ can do many useful things and is certainly a capable choice if you're taking high school math courses, the 89 has a Computer Algebra System which includes many ways of allowing you check your work while working calculus problems and supports a wider range of graphing options. The 84 is simply not designed to be used in a high school calculus environment.
I would have recommended the TI-89 series for you in this situation, but do keep in mind that many colleges will not let you use a graphing calculator at all in their math classes, so no matter what calculator you get you'll still be at a loss. :) However, it might be extremely useful if you're considering a CS degree.
Take all of this with that caveat that it's better to learn the material and theory without having to rely on a calculator at all. If you avoid taking the shortcuts you'll save time and effort down the road. |
theshonen8899
Probe
Posted: 9 Sep 2007
13:46 GMT
Total Posts: 3 | I have no problems getting TI-89 for college or a more powerful calculator because I'll have to pass my calculator on to my little brother, two years younger, eventually. If I really need the TI-89, what's the best way for me to switch without losing too much money? I can't return it, has yet to be a month since I bought it, right?
If I'm going to program my calculator then what apps do you guys recommend? What disadvantages can I expect from working with an programmed 84 as compared to an 89? And would this whole thing blow over if I just took Statistics with the 84 and graduated to the 89 in college calculus?
Once again, I really appreciate the help guys! |
haveacalc
Guardian
Posted: 9 Sep 2007
14:25 GMT
Total Posts: 1111 | By default, an 84+ runs slower than an 89, especially if the 89's a Titanium. If you were to sell the 89 on Ebay, you'd probably get around $60 dollars. You could probably circumnavigate most of the disadvantages of using an 84+ instead except for one: The TI-89 has a much more complex method for solving equations than the 83+/84+/SEs do. It simplifies really well and can solve for equations where variables aren't yet defined. Of course, if you're good at math, you probably won't rely on your calc that much anyways.
If you're going to just fill in little holes for what you'll be missing by using an 84, then you can probably get by with using BASIC, which you need no editor for (you program oncalc). If you really want to makes some sweet parallels, though, I think we all suggest you learn Z80 Assembly. Not many people like coding in opcodes, so I suggest you familiarize yourself with an Assembler.
Look at the TI-Nspire CAS if you want to get a new calc. FYI: The Nspire CAS has a computer algebra system, which the regular Nspire lacks. The CAS is gray, while the plain Nspire is blue.
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-quoted directly from most movies that don't exist (and some that do). |
theshonen8899
Probe
Posted: 10 Sep 2007
19:17 GMT
Total Posts: 3 | Wait, so courses in college won't allow you to use a graphing calculator? I don't quite understand the college system but if I were to get a computerish degree then I imagine I'd have to use one, perhaps an advanced one like that TI-Nspire.
Will Statistics be less demanding of a 89? I could always just jump there and take calculus in college honestly. It says statistics on the box of my 84 so I don't know if its "the best" for it or if its just capable of handling it. |
CoffmanRunner
Ultralisk
Posted: 15 Sep 2007
14:29 GMT
Total Posts: 235 | I love my 84 SE+ for quite a few reasons
1. By learning how to program on it I was leaps and bound above my programing class while they were still stuck on the idea of how a loop works
2. It is very easy to pick up and just use without reading a manual to preform simple math
3. Teachers (at least in my school) teach with the 84/83 so when they give instructions on what to press on ur calc you won't have to translate it to 89 talk
4. Lastly the 84/83 programing and regular community is much more "alive and kicking" compared to the 89 community
the 89 is a better calculator but it is hard to learn how to use it at the beginning
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Never gonna let you down... |
