<p>Hey. I'm going to be a freshman govt major in A&S, and I was wondering if I'm going to need a scientific calculator. I bought one at Office Max for 15% off, but I'm going to return it if I don't need it, bc it was still $130. Will I ever be required to take a math class, or will I be able to get around it. I know like for science I can take Psychology. Is there a way around math?</p>
<p>you probably mean graphing calculator...130 for a scientific would be for one that was like, gold plated or diamond set or something.</p>
<p>Cornell math classes don't let you use a graphing calculator for tests. This means the problems work out to nice numbers, but you have to actually learn the stuff instead of plugging it in. ;) You can use a grapher for your problem sets, better known as homework, and i would assume it's invaluable for checking your work and confirming things. Search for a TI-83+ on ebay if you're feeling thrifty. It's not the one with batmobile like features (aka TI-89 Titanium), but it got me through calc very well.</p>
<p>You could take any of the below courses for a math requirement:
From <a href="http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Academic/Courses/AS.phtml%5B/url%5D">http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Academic/Courses/AS.phtml</a>
[quote]
II. Mathematics and quantitive reasoning</p>
<p>In completing four courses in science and quantitative reasoning, students must take at least one of the following courses (please note that EDUC 115, Introductory College Mathematics, counts neither toward the college degree nor toward distribution):</p>
<p>Applied Economics and Management:</p>
<pre><code>210 Introductory Statistics
</code></pre>
<p>Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology:</p>
<pre><code>321 Numerical Methods in Computational Molecular Biology
</code></pre>
<p>Biometry:</p>
<pre><code>301 (formerly 261) Statistical Methods
</code></pre>
<p>City and Regional Planning:</p>
<pre><code>321 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
</code></pre>
<p>Cognitive Studies:</p>
<pre><code>172 Computation, Information, and Intelligence
424 Computational Linguistics
476 Decision Theory
</code></pre>
<p>Computer Science:</p>
<pre><code>100 Introduction to Computer Programming
172 Computation, Information, and Intelligence
211 Computers and Programming
280 Discrete Structures
312 Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
321 Numerical Methods in Computational Molecular Biology
424 Computational Linguistics
486 Applied Logic
</code></pre>
<p>Ecology and Evolutionary Biology:</p>
<pre><code>362 Dynamic Models in Biology
</code></pre>
<p>Earth and Atmospheric Science:</p>
<pre><code>435 Statistical Methods in Meteorology and Climatology
</code></pre>
<p>Economics:</p>
<pre><code>319 Introduction to Statistics and Probability
320 Introduction to Econometrics
321 Applied Econometrics
325 Cross Section and Panel Econometrics
368 Game Theory
405 Auction Seminar
431 Monetary Economics
470 Economics of Information
476/477 Decision Theory
</code></pre>
<p>Engineering:</p>
<pre><code>115 Engineering Applications of OR&IE
172 Computation, Information, and Intelligence
321 Numerical Methods in Computational Molecular Biology
</code></pre>
<p>Industrial and Labor Relations:</p>
<pre><code>210 Statistical Reasoning I
211 Statistical Reasoning II
</code></pre>
<p>Linguistics:</p>
<pre><code>424 Computational Linguistics
485 Topics in Computational Linguistics
</code></pre>
<p>Mathematics:</p>
<pre><code>all courses except 101 and 109
</code></pre>
<p>Philosophy:</p>
<pre><code>231 Introduction to Deductive Logic
331 Deductive Logic
383 Choice, Chance, and Reason
431 Mathematical Logic
432 Topics in Logic
436 Intensional Logic
</code></pre>
<p>Physics:</p>
<pre><code>205 Reasoning about Luck
209 Relativity and Chaos
</code></pre>
<p>Psychology:</p>
<pre><code>350 Statistics and Research Design
</code></pre>
<p>Sociology:</p>
<pre><code>301 Evaluating Statistical Evidence
</code></pre>
<p>If students choose two courses from this list to satisfy part of the distribution requirement, those two courses may not have significant overlap. For example, students may not choose two beginning courses in statistics. Nor may they earn credit toward the degree for overlapping courses: Biometry 301, formerly 261 (Statistical Methods I), CRP 223 (Intro to Statistical Reasoning), ECON 321 (Applied Econometrics), ILR 210 (Statistical Reasoning I), MATH 171 (Statistical Theory and Application in the Real World), PSYCH 350 (Statistics Research and Design), SOC 301 (Evaluating Statistical Evidence).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>haha. Yeah I meant graphing. None of the classes allow graphing calculators on tests? Not even statistics or the psychology ones?</p>
<p>i don't know. I'm just saying the word is math in general at cornell is not "calculatorey." Why are you so afraid of not using a calculator? basic ccon especially is not calculator intensive at all, it focuses much more on numbers than theory, and the tests would have easy to work with numbers that you'd just have to perform basic operations on. and it would also be invaluable for a governement major.</p>
<p>i'm not afraid of not using my calculator. I wasn't allowed to use my graphing calculator on most of my calculus tests last year, so it's not a problem. I was only wondering so I could safely return this calculator that I got at a good discount. so, thank you. I think I will return it, and wait until I get a recommendation by my professor as to what I should buy. 15% off isn't a whole lot anyways.</p>
<p>What is the use in math and science classes? Which calculator?</p>
<p>I dont understand your post tgbyhn...</p>
<p>get a cheapie 10-15 dollar scientific calculator. you wont need anything more than that</p>
<p>whatabout me shizz?? itseems everyone is getting ti's and stuff, i right now am about to buy the 225$TI 89 titanium...but you think i dont need nething more than a reg scientific calc for engineering physics??</p>
<p>You don't need anything more than a scientific calculator. If you ever need to graph or do some super complex integral (which is rare), then use Maple or Mathematica. Save the money for booze or books, whichever you prefer.</p>
<p>Maple and/or Mathematica are available in the computer labs, right? How much would it cost to purchase a copy of either of these from Cornell to put on our personal computers?</p>
<p>They're not available in the library or engineering computer labs as far as I know. Departmental computer labs might have them though. The chem undergrad computer lab has Mathematica and the AEP undergrad computer lab has Maple. You can purchase a 1-year renewable license for Mathematica for 30$ through Cornell, or you can get your copy through less than legal means.</p>
<p>Oh wow...that sucks...at least it isn't that expensive...</p>
<p>really shizz?? no graphing calc?that seems so weird, lol, but i believe u...the only thing is i hear alot of ppl say its a time saver and a life saver in that u can check the answers to problem sets with it and skip tedious steps like differentiation or sumtin like that??? ye u def. put a halt to my purchase, lol, but just seems like EVERYone is getting one...but maybe not.. i dunno...what did u see at cornell about those who bought one? did u see them use em , use em rarely, never use em and wish they didnt/did buy em? thnks again</p>
<p>if you rely on a ti-89 to get you through engineering, then you don't belong in engineering. tedious steps should be done by hand. only someone like a chemist would have the gall to take a shortcut by using a computational program.</p>
<p>you need a calculator to do simple calculations for chem 207/208/211, but thats the extent of calculator usage.</p>
<p>ok, thanks man, no calc it is
saved me 250$ well, only canadian dollars, lol</p>
<p>Yes, seriously, shizz is right, you don't need a graphing calculator for anything at all.</p>
<p>k, which college u in perro, and major?? just wondering</p>
<p>perro is in mech engineering if i'm not mistaken.</p>
<p>Aye, sparticus is right. He's very attentive, and that's why he's a living legend arodund these parts....</p>