<p>Preferably, I want to just have this one calculator for the rest of my high school life and not need to buy any others. I need a calculator for two of my AP tests this year, AP Physics B, and AP Calculus AB. I'll also be taking the Math II subject test, and Physics subject test this year. </p>
<p>Can you recommend one good calculator that is allowed on ALL of these tests? If not, please give me my next best option in terms of what calculator(s) to buy. </p>
<p>I would also like to use this calculator for the SAT. </p>
<p>The TI-84 plus is a great calculator, and I’ve checked out the C edition, and If it was the same price I would get it. However, I think that the ti-89 would be the best choice. It does everything the 84 does and more, and it way easier to read off the screen. It’s great for those times when you have a brainfart, and you can just put it in and solve it.</p>
<p>You might want to check the ACT and SAT sites for approved calculators. Our D has a TI-84 Silver that was approved for use on the ACT (she didn’t take the SAT) and has been used all four years of HS. She didn’t have any AP math/science classes - just honors.</p>
<p>I personally prefer the NSpire over the 84 mostly because of better graphics and easier interface (although they have basically the same functionality). The 89 and NSpire CAS are useful since they can evaluate expressions algebraically and do indefinite integrals (e.g. integrate ln x dx instead of ln x dx from 1 to 3).</p>
<p>The CX feature is nice if you wish to do a lot of 3D graphing (nice to have in multi-variable calc) but you don’t really need it for AP/SAT. </p>
<p>Only drawback is that calculators with CAS functionality are banned on the ACT. Then again, most ACT questions can easily be solved without a calculator.</p>
<p>I do not recommend the TI-89 because it is much more finicky when it comes to syntax and has a sigificantly higher learning curve. Its advantages in functionality are unnecessary for the ACT.</p>
<p>The TI 84 plus, however, is the most user friendly graphing calculator that exists.</p>
<p>In general,</p>
<p>TI 83 plus - very easy to learn, medium-low functionality
TI 83 plus silver - prone to breakdowns. Do not buy.
TI 84 - very easy to learn, medium functionality
TI-86 - outdated. medium difficulty, medium functionality. Should be noted that the TI 86 does not do everything the TI 84 does.
TI 89 - hard to learn, high functionality
HP 50G - hard to learn, high functionality</p>
<p>TI NSpire has even more memory than TI-84+ SE. It also has a free TI-84 keypad offer by mail that you can use it as TI-84. Currently, it is selling at only ~$60 which is much cheaper than TI-84+ SE.</p>