<p>If you are a serious engineer or plan on becoming one(scientist and mathematicians too, etc), you definetely need to get it. However, it is imperative that you fully understand it's capabilities.</p>
<p>If you use as it a substitute for real knowledge, you will fail. Search on the internet for opensource Computer Algebra Systems. You will see what they arec capable of. :)</p>
<p>I have had a ti-89 stolen from me. It sucked, but i just went out and bought a new one. I never owned a 83 but if you have a ti-89 it can solve any problem as long as you know how to use it. Seriously ANY math problem so just make sure and read the rules!!! I havent but i might after reading this thread.</p>
<p>I got the titanium a couple hours ago. Wow... I've been playing with its functions and I might be in love (jk..?) Ashernm, I didn't read your post in time, so I bought it at Staples... lol. </p>
<p>I plan on going further in math (prospective engineering major) so I'm glad the investment won't go to waste. =)</p>
<p>I'm actually eager to read the instruction manual. I think I'll bring both 83 and 89 to school because I'm more familiar with the 83 and I don't know how to do any of the functions for stat class using the 89.</p>
<p>Very happy with choice. Thanks for all the advice!</p>
<p>Unfortunately the instruction manual provided with the TI-89 sucks. It has a few simple examples, while 2/3 of the book are programming instructions listing most of the function calls. The best introductory resource for the 89 would be the online guide found on TI's website.</p>
<p>You could just look at a manual at ticalc.org</p>
<p>I have questions about the TI-89, too.... </p>
<p>OK, so my first (and only) graphing calculator was a TI-86. It's fine, I guess. I'm comfortable with it, but sometimes I get extremely confused in math when we're doing new stuff (because everyone has TI-83s). And lately it's been acting wonky with graphing. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or what, but polar & parametric equations look completely wrong most of the time (and the times when it works, I'm not doing anything differently!). =/ </p>
<p>I'm taking Calc BC next year, and I want to make a fairly painless calculator transition. I've seen TI-89s and the keys look similar to TI-83s (which I can manage). TI-89s sound really complicated, though. I'm clueless enough with all this programming stuff as it is. I'd have no idea how to go about adding a program to my 86 (also I lost the cord); do you hook it up to the computer or what? </p>
<p>In conclusion: do you think it'd behoove me to invest in a TI-89? All of the functions sound ... nice. I'd just have to figure them out. And download all of the helpful programs mentioned here. Or should I just get a TI-83, since I'm so daft?</p>
<p>Apologies for being terribly clueless.</p>
<p>Could you bring both a TI-83 and 89 to the SATs? :-p</p>
<p>Yep. I did that once, just in case. I didn't bring out the 83 though, since they didn't object to my 89.</p>
<p>lol I want to do that cuz I feel uncomfortable using the 89 still. Oh well, my SATs are June at the earliest. </p>
<p>But Oh My Goodness... WOW! The 89 is AMAZING. I have never felt so excited about a calculator before. At first I was frustrated at the change of keys and menus, but it's actually not that complicated; very well organized and stuff. I wonder what calculator will come out next.</p>
<p>IMHO (heheh I've always wanted to say that), I think Silver Editions, 84's...etc are pointless. I don't know about the 86, but I think all a person really needs is (either) an 83+ and/or 89. I'm not sure what the difference between reg89 or 89 Titanium is, but I couldn't resist the pull of the Titanium (so this last paragraph might be hypocritical of me). lol...</p>
<p>Its so shiny :).</p>
<p>Haha, I think I'm going to get one soon. But I don't feel confident about using it on the test... :-/.</p>
<p>The Titanium has more memory and (as is usually the case with TI calculators with more memory) more preloaded programs. It is definitely worth it, IMO, because I found the original 89's memory space to be really limited. If you have the Titanium, you can archive the entire SAT dictionary with 9000 entries, which is great for a certain test wink wink nudge nudge.</p>
<p>don't get the ti89 for calc... how about we stop relying on the calculator to do things and figure them out ourselves... personally, having a ti89 is in a sense a copout... not learning the material, but having the calc do it for you... there are several kids in my class who scored extremely low at the beginning of the year... we're talking 38/130's here and suddenly are at 100s... that is just unfair... now i have both, and i personally don't see the need for a ti89 even if you're taking calc</p>
<p>If it is conciously permitted by the CollegeBoard, then why the *$^% not? Unfair? Wow...this is the 21st century, we don't calculate by hand as much, and if you tried to do the whole test by hand, you would most certainly not complete the test. Anyway, the NEW SAT does require a graphing calculator as some questions necessitate the use of such a calculator - the better the calculater, the easier it is to solve such problems. Besides, there are numerous questions where the ask you to solve an equation or system of equations and in that case, it is just terrific to use the algebra "auto-solve" function [solve()] on the 89. </p>
<p>Also, many questions involve NOTHING but variables and the expand() function is absolutely awesome... type in your equation and the 89 auto-rearranges the equation to your liking. For instance, take an equation and reduce it into the lowest terms, into different terms [such as in radians/in terms of (Pi)], it just goes on and on....</p>
<p>Factor() - OMG this is a sweet function - factor any number into prime factors or factor an equation(s) into the lowest terms. </p>
<p>Find the GCF or LCM, probability of anything, auto-average, auto-mediate, auto-...Omg...On and On and On and On and On and On and On.....</p>
<p>Hey, I have almost a hundred screenshots of the 89 in action if anyone is interested. I'll post em to my webserver for you</p>
<p>You should get it! It's pretty and it'll make you look ultra cool.</p>
<p>That too... :D - lol...</p>
<p>putting the whole dictionary into your ti-89 would be pointless, since 1) you cant have your calculator out while doing the verbal/writing section and 2) you cant go back on sections.</p>
<p>so, you are cheating if you do that, -.-.</p>
<p>Funny you should mention cheating, since I devised an elaborate scheme to do this without cheating, taking advantage of what I thought were loopholes. But the loopholes turned out to be nonexistent, so it would be cheating after all. That's why the "wink wink nudge nudge" was there...</p>
<p>Lol, thats just retarded to put the SAT dictionary on your calc...unless its for studying in boring history class...Then I understand completely.</p>
<p>cujoe169, what you said does have merit. That is why some sections of the AP exam, and lots of college courses don't let you use calculators.</p>
<p>HOWEVER: We live in a new age, and rarely do you see nice integer solutions. It is important that you also undertake practical problems. </p>
<p>If you can find a balance between calculator and mind, you will be in a very good position:</p>
<p>ie: I don't use calculator normally on barrons, unless I see some pointless computation. On the calculator part though, I full out let my calculator do every integral, derivative, etc for me. Why lose points trying to prove you don't depend on a calculator, when you can utilize it, and do well.</p>
<p>Also, the Calculator parts of the AP Exam are designed in such a way, that using calculator does not mean you will get it right: you have to have a deep knowledge of what you are doing.</p>
<p>It's great, definitely buy it if you can. I bought it because I was starting C30 and Calculus (I don't know what the equivalent is) and I was deciding between it and a Ti84+silver. The deal breaker was the price, becasue the Ti89 was $5 dollars cheaper. Also the functions included are unbelievalbe -- and it has 3d graphing as well as the ability to solve trigonometric and complex equations. The only set back with grahing calculators is that they are not allowed on some tests; and the ones that they are allowed on; we have to clear out the memory, which leaves only the basic applications (less than the amount that the calculator came with).</p>