Current Senior Buying New Calculator

<p>I'm looking to buy a new graphing calculator because my sibling is getting my old one. I'm thinking about buying a TI 89 Titanium, since I'll be going to college next year and I'm planning to major in Engineering. What are college calculator policies when it comes to the TI 89? Since I haven't been accepted anywhere yet (April 1, where are you?), I would appreciate input from ANYONE at ANY undergraduate at ANY college/university. Thanks!</p>

<p>I haven’t taken a Maths class that allowed calculators on tests or quizzes, but they do allow them for homework. You can use wolframalpha for homework, so you should just save your money.</p>

<p>Yeah, most math classes don’t let you use calcs on tests because they give you numbers that are easy to work with.</p>

<p>That said, you should get the Hummer H2 of calculators:</p>

<p>[TI-Nspire&#153</a>; with Touchpad by Texas Instruments - US and Canada](<a href=“TI Products | Calculators and Technology | Texas Instruments”>TI Products | Calculators and Technology | Texas Instruments)</p>

<p>My liberal arts college does not have an engineering program, but science students don’t need anything more advanced than a scientific calculator. We use mathematical computer software packages (like Matlab or Mathematica) for things that you might have done with a graphing calculator in high school. Computer software is more powerful, has better graphics and it is easy to print out the workbook and hand it in to be graded. </p>

<p>The more powerful your calculator, the higher your odds of it being prohibited on exams and such.</p>

<p>I cannot for the life of me stand these questions. Why people think school policies are the same at every university baffles me.</p>

<p>It depends on the school.</p>

<p>And the class.
I’ve had math classes where no calculators were allowed (calc 3). I’ve had math classes where an 89 was accepted (diffeq). And I’ve had all the in between.</p>

<p>And it depends on the prof. This semester, the diffeq students aren’t allowed to use a calculator at all.</p>

<p>I’m doing engineering currently, and the TI-89 is perfect for me. While math classes won’t let you use calculators usually (scientific ones if they do) your other science and engineering courses will typically have the policy of as long as it doesn’t have a qwerty keyboard and doesn’t have an internet connection, its fine.</p>

<p>Most of the people I know have the TI-89, and it is fairly powerful for what you need. I haven’t owned an Nspire, but I do know that the 89s are great.</p>

<p>I love my TInspire CAS. Seriously adore it. I’m in Calc AB, and I would highly recommend it.</p>

<p>TInspires are overpriced. HP calculators give you more bang for your buck, though they are less idiot-proof.</p>

<p>For my calculus class, we’re allowed to use certain calculators on exams. Specifically, the TI89 is not allowed. Most people I know have TI84s and it seems to work fine for them.</p>

<p>It was funny coming into my first year engineering and all the kids had fancy new $150 graphing calculators and then we’re told we’re only allowed to use the $10 dollar scientific calculator in the bookstore that has the school logo on it. Most tests won’t allow a graphing calculator and if you want it for homework then just use a website or program on your laptop that does graphing.</p>

<p>So yeah you probably won’t need a graphing calculator, and if you do, buy it then. Not like calculators vanish off the face of the earth after school starts.</p>

<p>A pre-owned TI89 should work nicely. My old one lasted from 8th grade to a few months ago.</p>

<p>I’ve had a TI-83 since 7th grade (currently sophomore in college) and it’s worked out great for me.</p>

<p>ti-89 is my ish but buy it used (or find one like i did in the lost and found lol)</p>