The discussion centers on the necessity of obtaining a graphing calculator, particularly the TI-83 or TI-84 models, for high school calculus courses. Users emphasize the importance of checking with instructors regarding calculator requirements, as some courses mandate their use while others do not. Many participants advocate for manual calculations to strengthen analytical skills, while also acknowledging the efficiency of graphing calculators for complex problems. Recommendations include purchasing used models from platforms like eBay or Craigslist, where prices can be significantly lower, such as $25 for a TI-82.
PREREQUISITESHigh school students, particularly those enrolled in calculus or statistics courses, educators advising on curriculum requirements, and anyone interested in optimizing their mathematical problem-solving efficiency.
symbolipoint said:Check the sales advertisements and you should be able to find TI-84 for about 90 dollars.
Course schedules and descriptions for some Math courses say, "graphing calculator required", but then again as others just said, check with the teacher who teaches the course. We learned Calculus 1-3 and Intermediate & College Algebra, and Trigonometry just fine years ago before graphing calculators became popular. They at least give you greater efficiency in checking some of your work.
supernova1203 said:huh... the t1-83 is for about 150, the 84 is about 180...maybe its just up here in Canada, but when it comes to this, or really anything in life I am very old fashioned, i like to do things manually, for instance what happens when calculators and computers stop working?
which is why i can do all the stuff manually, its just the teacher has been giving us a lot of work that requires us to use a graphing calculator...
ebits21 said:Just as a tip if you decide you need one, Ebay is actually a good place to get a good deal on a graphing calculator, especially during the summer when people are trying to get rid of them. Graphing calculators don't seem to change a whole lot, so getting a good used one might be a great way to save money.
If you have an ipod touch or iphone you can also use the "free graphing calculator" app for basic things (obviously, you couldn't take this to a test).
I agree with the above posts, however. They're a terrible thing to rely on.
tedbradly said:Why do you need a graphing calculator to do statistical analysis?
ebits21 said:Agreed, if you're doing statistics then a full computer with software is far superior. Who wants to spend all day entering data sets?
ebits21 said:I have a cheap Texas instruments scientific calculator (under $15) that can find standard deviation, standard error, sums of squares, and other statistical information.
No it can't do linear regression (or any other kind of regression), but I would much rather do those things with software. Basic reason why is because it's so much easier to deal with data sets on a pc, and a stats software package is much more powerful than the software available on a graphing calculator.
I see what you're saying when you're learning high school level statistics... but I don't think the cost is worth it for just that reason.
Yeah, not to mention if you're taking a class that teaches SD, you'll probably be expected to show your work when you calculate SD, and calculating SD isn't a long process as long as your teacher gives you a reasonable amount of data, which she would on a test. The test is to see if you know the material, not if you know the calculator.ebits21 said:I have a cheap Texas instruments scientific calculator (under $15) that can find standard deviation, standard error, sums of squares, and other statistical information.
No it can't do linear regression (or any other kind of regression), but I would much rather do those things with software. Basic reason why is because it's so much easier to deal with data sets on a pc, and a stats software package is much more powerful than the software available on a graphing calculator.
I see what you're saying when you're learning high school level statistics... but I don't think the cost is worth it for just that reason.
tedbradly said:Yeah, not to mention if you're taking a class that teaches SD, you'll probably be expected to show your work when you calculate SD, and calculating SD isn't a long process as long as your teacher gives you a reasonable amount of data, which she would on a test. The test is to see if you know the material, not if you know the calculator.
I will say that in HS, I was asked to find the equation for a line based on data and never taught how to do it by hand. So if you take a course that needs that ability, a TI-83 or so is probably required.