<p>Hi guys.
I just got delivered my new TI-Nspire CAS
after I worked years through school with "just"
s scientific calculator.</p>
<p>I've read here and somewhere else a couple of times
that a CAS is very helpful and the SAT II Math 2
because it SAVES time.</p>
<p>I know I have to get used to the calculator but
still - I think basic computations are faster manageable
with just a plain scientific calculator.
So I am planning to use a scientific and the graphing calculator on
my test day.</p>
<p>I am wondering when a CAS really helps to save you time?
What problems, what principles can a CAS do faster for you
instead of determining a determinant of a square matrix?</p>
<p>I would appreciate all your help. I also would appreciate a link to an already
existing topic.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Well, as far as I remember, the Math II exam has questions like: Solve e^2x=39467. And choices (A) through (E) are all given in decimal format. In this case, a CAS would save you loads of time and would significantly reduce chance of human error.</p>
<p>@314159265:
Well, actually you only have to use the ln function on both sides and divide by 2 and you have solved for x. So I would only type in ln 39467 and divide the ans by 2 and that wouldn’t take me more than a minute with a scientific calc. And I think for those basic computations a scientific calc is just faster BECAUSE it has more “basic keys”. What I mean is that I have directly a key for cos/sin/tan or lg/ln etc. whereas I can only reach these functions with key combinations on my CAS (or even have to open the menu for the trigonometric functions).</p>
<p>Or please explain to me if you think something different :).</p>
<p>^You see, some people wouldn’t really know how to solve those problems by hand. And others would have trouble doing it. So that’s where the CAS comes into play. Obviously, you’re a smart kid, so you may not need the CAS, but others may not be so fortunate.</p>