<p>Does anyone know what type of calculator is needed for college? Thanks</p>
<p>The TI-83, 84 and the N-spires seem to be popular among the students and should be fine in college. However, some bring Ti89’s, 90+, HP50’s just b.c. they’re amazing. (Some professors frown at the latter calculators and may not allow them on the tests)</p>
<p>Be aware that many stats, accounting, and business courses require basic 4 function or TI-30 calculators.</p>
<p>In college, I needed a TI-84 for lower level math (calc) and a 4 function for accounting/stats. An engineer/math major might need HP 50g or even a small laptop for MATLAB.</p>
<p>I have never been allowed a calculator in a course in which a calculator would be useful and in those that allowed calculators, I can do the math in my head faster than typing it into a calculator. A ti-83+ is sufficient for any lower division math course, but it is annoying if you make a mistake. A ti 84, ti 86, and ti 89 are all priced only a marginal difference from one another. If you are not allowed a calculator on exams and carry a laptop around always, download matlab and use that.</p>
<p>It really depends on what kind of classes you’re planning on taking. Pre-Calc, Stats, Elementary Calculus? Sure, bring one, just about any will do. Physics, Chemistry, you might want to invest in a graphic calculator. Higher level maths? Don’t bother.</p>
<p>Having a ti89 or hp50 will help a lot in higher level maths actually. Of course, probably not during exams, but you can check your work if they do let you, and you can check your work while doing homework as well. I’d say it’s pretty damn useful…</p>
<p>Math and physics at my college don’t allow anything more advanced than a scientific calculator on exams. They have mathematical software packages (Mathematica, Matlab, etc) which are way more powerful than a graphing calculator for homework assignments.</p>
<p>I have heard form chemistry students that graphing calculators can be useful for chemistry, but I don’t have any first-hand experience.</p>
<p>Conclusion: ask someone at your own school. There’s no damage done in bringing whatever calculator(s) you already own, but don’t invest into a more powerful one until the need arises (because it may never arise).</p>
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<p>Can a TI-89 write a proof for you? Because that’s really what higher level maths entails . . .</p>
<p>ti89 if you’re going to be an engineer. There’s no substitute.</p>
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Obviously you’ve never used an HP calculator. What makes you say “there’s no substitute” if all you’ve ever used is a TI calc?</p>
<p>HP has gone downhill according to my stepfather; I’ve used TI89s for about 11 years.</p>