I was wondering what’s a good calculator for a Calculus class in college? Is a graphing calculator necessary and if so which brand? I’ve heard a lot about the TI graphing calculators but don’t know which model is best for calculus
TI graphing calculators are good because often times you can share programs more easily with classmates and/or teachers (like ones that calculate LRAM, RRAM, and Newton’s Root). I myself use a Casio, however, and that works just fine for me.
Also, the newer TI’s have color screens which can be helpful when graphing multiple functions.
Certain Calc classes do not require it; I’m in a very standard Calc class (in a “success community” reserved for Math and Comp Sci majors predominantly) and the way the class is designed is that the actual calculations are quite simple but the the skills necessary to solve it are complex.
I have TI-84 from high school but I haven’t touched it this entire semester - it wasn’t necessary for our homework, and calculators weren’t allowed on assessments and they won’t be allowed on the final either. Usually no-calculator policies are in your interest because it means you’ll get relatively tame answers (rather than bizarre decimal points) and you’ll be asked to sketch pretty standard functions.
So if I were you, I’d maybe try to find a Calc I syllabus from your university (it’ll be particularly helpful if it is from your professor) and see the calculator policy. Even if calculators aren’t allowed, you might still need to invest in one if you hope to take to more math courses or other math intensive courses down the road.
Ask if there are any calculator restrictions for exams (presumably there will be some, doubtful internet access will be allowed, probably not symbolic calculation as on a TI-89).
TI-84, NSpire, etc. are all fine. But you should check first if the exams allow graphing calculators.
Keep in mind, depending on major, you may or may not really find a graphing calculator useful. I’m a 3rd year math major, and have only used the graphing calculator in a chemistry course (we use Internet or graphing software such as Wolfram Mathematica).
Get the right professors and you can Ti-89 all the way from Calculus I to the courses beyond Calculus III and Differential Equations.
As an electrical engineer, it’s a staple to have one if you want to finish your tests on time. (/ it makes up for the fact that the EE department voted statistics over linear algebra for the curriculum)
The most common calculator you’ll see at that level (in my experience anyways) is the TI84. It’s super easy to learn and use, has lots of functionality in calculus, probability, statistics, and basic math, and is programmable. The UI is also really nice as it provides a much more natural interface than most of the other TI calculators.
If you are a STEM major (especially an engineer) you may want to invest in a TI89. The TI89 has a lot more functions than the 84 and has a built in CAS (computer algebra system) which allows you to perform symbolic math. The 89 is harder to learn and use than the 84 but can be very useful in more advanced math and science.
Keep in mind that some professors won’t allow you to us any kind of calculator on exams and will “strongly discourage” their use on homework assignments. If this is the case you could buy a calculator for your own personal use, or you can learn Wolfram Alpha, MATLAB, or Mathematica (the first is online, the second two should be free for some students).
In my opinion, you don’t really need a calculator. Maybe for Calculus II, but I seldom used one in Calculus I and II.
If you’re a math major, you’ll never use one when you take Real Analysis.
A TI-84 got me through undergrad through lower-divison just fine. Then, I started taking more heavy applied math classes where they didn’t care what calculator you used, so I went and bought a TI-89. It is definitely worth the investment and may be a bit overkill for most things. It was helpful when you need to check answers when integrating. I probably used a calculator most when I took a ton of statistic classes.
I got a TI84 and have never looked back.
- Check to see what calculators are banned/allowed.
I would strongly recommend having a good graphing calc, you’ll use it throughout college not just throw it away after this semester.
What I would recommend is the TI-Nspire CAS. Pretty much top of the line and user friendly.