<p>Hi...</p>
<p>I am self-studying statistics (really quick...eek)...I am using Barrons. I was wondering...I have a TI-86 that I have been using, but it doesn't seem to have a lot of the functions. My friend has a TI-84, I think, and I could do a lot of stuff on it with the "DISTR" key that I couldn't do with my TI-86...normal distribution probabilities and whatnot. Do I need a TI-83+ or TI-84 calculator for the AP test?</p>
<p>Any other general stat advice is appreciated, as well...</p>
<p>The only kind of calculator you really need is a scientific. Included in the test booklet is a page of formulas, so you don't need a calculator that can perform all the tests really. The test main focus is on knowing how to apply statistics, not actual computing. An 83/84 is unneeded. I used an 89 on my test and I couldn't find anything close to a distribution key back then lol.</p>
<p>I would so strongly suggest that you get an 83/84. Some of the OR questions require you to compute the slope and standard deviations of a set of data. It would be horrible to have to do that on a scientific. It also calculates p values. Even some of the MC (in Barrons book) requires you to use inverse norm and stuff like that.</p>
<p>The things I couldn't find on my calculator were normalcdf, normalpdf, invNorm, and things like that. Should I just program them in there or whatever?</p>
<p>I have a graphing calculator (a TI-86, an odd one) and it does do standard deviations and correlation and stuff...</p>
<p>But I don't think it does inverse norm. And it doesn't do p values, I don't think.</p>
<p>I did program my calculator to do normalcdf...but I don't know how I would go about getting the probabilities.</p>
<p>Since I am self-studying...quickly, mind you...would it be better to get a TI 84 or something and use it just for the test and then maybe take it back?</p>
<p>ok here is an equation to integrate
1/ (sqrt(2 pi) * sigma) * e^( -(x-u)^2/(2 sigma^2) ) </p>
<p>I think thats it, sigma = standard deviation and u = mean, if you put it as the standard normal its 1/sqrt( 2 pi) * e^(-x^2/2) integrated from whatever to whatever. plug in from -1000 to 1000 and you should get close to 1. Look online and download that stats package, becuase doing even chi square is much more difficult without the formula.</p>
<p>okay, i don't know how you would go about using just a scientific calculator for AP stats, who8. my ti 83 has all the programs and it's so much easier typing in the data and having the calculator do the calculations. it would honestly suck to have to using those equations to calculate on a scientific calcultaor because some of the equations get VERY long.</p>
<p>taking the stats exam w/o a calc would not be a good choice. do you know if they give us the formula sheet for the free response as well?</p>
<p>yes they give you a formula sheet for free response. however, i find the formula sheet not very useful.. it's so much easier to just punch it into your calc and get your answer than to look around for a formula.</p>
<p>how did you program your TI-86 to have normalcdf? My 86 is just like yours and I have no idea how to fix it.
Please let me know.</p>
<p>try looking on [Welcome</a> - ticalc.org](<a href=“http://www.ticalc.org/]Welcome”>http://www.ticalc.org/) for a program to do it</p>