<p>are there any special programs etc that would be useful and very time saving?</p>
<p>No. The only program you need is the graphing ability, which is extremely useful for polynomial and trig questions.</p>
<p>I don’t have a graphing calculator, and have been using a scientific calculator to do a lot of practice tests. Though it requires a better knowledge of the math behind the graphs, and more extensive use of algebra, you can certainly solve nearly every problem without graphing. You just can’t take the easy way out and say “Well, gee, I don’t understand what’s going on here so I’ll let my calculator show me.”</p>
<p>However, there are certainly problems that absolutely require a graphing calculator, which is a sad reality of the SAT Math 2 test. Could you borrow one, just for graphing problems (the graphing option is usually pretty intuitive and won’t require all to much familiarity, on the average TI 83-84)? You’re allowed to have a backup calculator, so you could solve everything else, and then let your normal calculator “break” and bring out the graphing calculator for the last couple problems.</p>
<p>yes that was my plan, just get a graphing one for the graphs and use my trusty scientific one for the rest :)</p>
<p>Graphing calculators are extremely useful for checking the solutions for problems that could otherwise be done by hand. </p>
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<p>Well, lets say you get a problem that asks you to find the roots to a polynomial of fifth degree (starts with x^5). If you don’t know how to factor fifth degree polynomials, then you could graph the equation and use it to find the x intercepts, which are the roots. So, obviously you can take the easy way out and solve that problem in less than 30 seconds while factoring it would probably take longer. </p>
<p>In any case, colleges only care about the score. They don’t ask “When you took the SAT II Math IIc exam, did you use a graphing calculator to solve most of the questions, or did you simply use your mind and hands to solve problems?” </p>
<p>And I don’t see using a graphing calculator as a “sad reality” Lmao. Using a calculator and other computation devices is necessary in many jobs, especially in engineering for example. So students and workers should be able to show at least a decent level of skill with a graphing calculator. Why do you think a graphing calculator is required on the AP Calculus Exams?</p>
<p>I would get one. Students cannot advance to higher levels of math without a graphing calculator these days. I would just get one, and keep using it for years to come. Trust me, it’s worth it.</p>