How much advantage does a graphing calculator provide over a scientific calculator?
Are some questions even possible without graph functionality? A graphing calculator is certainly going to help you more than a scientific one. I use an HP prime graphing calculator and I’m shocked that it’s not banned. Touch screen graphing, easy access to intersection, absolute value, max/min and the ability to enter complex fractions and copy and edit expression; I recommend getting a good calculator like the HP prime or inspire (not sure if inspire is allowed).
I used the CASIO fx-570ES Plus today. Everything was ok except for like 5 questions in which a graphing calculator was preferable.
Hmm I didn’t use any graphing calculator yesterday. I didn’t feel there was much need for it. But I’ll be taking it again if I don’t get an 800 so I wanted to know.
Thank you @nailuj123 and @Mrduque !
A graphing calculator that you can use efficiently will save you LOADS of time.
You can graph ellipses (± sqrt(stuff)) and see how many times the intersect parabolas (a frequent question).
It has a built in “solve for x” iterator.
You can do logs in different bases.
It has a permutation and combination function.
You can plug in data to lists and have it calculate the mean, standard deviation, etc.
You can do guess and check much faster.
All I know is the graphing calculator was a HUGE aid for me on the test. I could have done well without it, but because how I know how to use every single feature on it the test is much easier. Do not use a graphing calculator if you are not familiar with it.
You dont need a super fancy one either, even the TI-84 (from 5 years ago I might add) can do all the things metntioned above.
Yup I am on a TI-84 C silver edition. Turn off “detect asymptotes” and you are all good!
Permutation and combination function is present in the scientific calculator I have. I’m pretty thorough with mean, standard deviation etc since my school follows a tougher syllabus (I’ve used a graphing calculator my friend has and it took more time to input values etc.). But it may really help me on the x intersections of the graph, I guess. I will seriously consider getting one.
Thank you @Cubby208 and @snowfairy137
I used a TI-84 and it worked just fine. Got an 800 btw.
definitely helps a lot to use a graphing calc on it
Thought I would update here.
Wrote the SAT Subject Math 2 twice - both times without graphing calculator. Got 730 and then 800. The first time I wrote it, I found only 1 question required a graphing calculator and no questions the second time I wrote (even questions that were graph based could be solved if you had a certain knowledge of graphs.
A scientific calculator is essential though - log functions etc that commonly appear on the test are nearly unsolvable without it.