<p>Is the TI-84 used a lot in calculus? I've heard it's a godsend for statistics, but I honestly don't know for BC. Frankly, I never needed it during trig/precalculus.</p>
<p>A higher level graphing calculator isn't just a godsend for a calculus class, its a literal requirement. They are allowed to ask you questions about the nature of a graph that can ONLY be answered with the ability to accurately graph it and find intercepts. More importantly however, you will be expected to evaluate something called an integral a few times on your test, and most calculators beneath the 84 don't have the function required (and there is no realistic way to do it otherwise). If nothing else, when they give you a function to manipulate in someway, a lot of people find it handy to be able to have complete control over how they see its graph, rather than just seeing it the way its presented on a test (if at all).</p>
<p>If you can afford it, I would HIGHLY recommend getting a ti-89 to help you in the class. The college Board has often claimed that the test is supposed to be calculator neutral, but anyone who teaches the class agrees that the additional power of this thing can give you a slight edge, possible the difference between a 4 and a 5.</p>
<p>Hm...interesting take. I currently have a TI-84, but I would break down and buy a TI-89 if it really would work to my advantage (though $140 is by no means chump change to me). </p>
<p>How did you learn to use the thing anyway? I learned to use my TI-84 from my Algebra 2 class because we had a class set and the teacher helped us along the way, but I doubt there will be a class set of TI-89s in my calculus class.</p>
<p>My AP Calculus BC teacher is anticalculator. You should totally know the value of sin(37 radians) without a calculator.</p>
<p>You definitely need a calculator, but a TI-89 is really superfluous. I don't know much about the differences between a TI-84 and 83 (I used an 84) but both should be fine (my class online showed directions for the TI-83). If you already have one of those, don't waste your money on an 89.</p>
<p>Alright, thanks for the heads up. Anyone else have any opinions?</p>
<p>you dont need more than a TI-83+, which is the same as a TI-84 but 84 has more memory
89 is completely unnecessary</p>
<p>If you understand math well, anything TI-83 and above will do.</p>
<p>Everyone in our class used a TI-83/84 and we had a high pass rate.</p>