When is a TI-89 ever needed/useful?

<p>I have one from my sister's trig days, but my school only uses TI-84s. As in, they also supply them during the schoolyear to students who don't have one. I know the TI-89 does everything (even foils, reverse foils, etc) but I don't know how to use it. I've barely used anything past adding/subtracting/multiplying more than one or twice because of how inept I am with it :/ I do have a friend with a TI-89 Titanium, though, and I could ask him to teach me how to use my calculator if all else fails, but I'm wondering if it'll be worth it or if I should just buy my own TI-84+ silver or something? Oh, and if you guys need my math classes: I didn't use a graphing calc in Alg I until it was almost time for the End-of-Course tests, I used one last year for Discrete Math and Alg II (both Honors) and next year (10th grade) I'll be taking Geometry and Pre-Calc(also both Honors). For junior and senior years, though, I'll be taking math classes at the local college. I prob. won't go past college calculus w/ analytic geometry, though.</p>

<p>TI 89s are stupid. Get an 84+silver.</p>

<p>I cannot stress how stupid 89s are. They’re extremely tedious to manage, especially if you have to finish a rushed 80 minute exam or something.</p>

<p>The handbook that comes with the calculator would probably be a better resource for learning what it can do.</p>

<p>That being said, I suggest the 84. It can be used everywhere any graphing calculators can be used; that’s not true of the 89.</p>

<p>For Calculus, me loves my ti-89 titanium <3 xD</p>

<p>Wow everyone in my engineering school would kill you. When would you ever need a TI-89??? EVERYWHERE!!! SATS, SAT IIs, APs, I have used my TI-89 Titanium everywhere! Just know f2—>solve and you never ever need to solve a equation again. It has auto derive and integrate (useful for checking your manual derivations and integrations in Calc).</p>

<p>Speaking of the SATs, once you have f2 solve, the math section becomes so much easier. This is the reason why TI-89s were banned on the ACTs. Trust me, if you are having problems, the TI 89 Titanium will help you so much.</p>

<p>There are A LOT of functions, so many that even after three years of using my Titanium, I still don’t know all of them. Just do yourself a favor and buy one, its pretty much the only calculator you will ever need. I have heard good reviews about the TI Inspire though - thats kinda a new generation thing, so that may replace TI 89 Titaniums, so I would invest time in searching through what functions you will need.</p>

<p>I think the Ti 89 Titaniums are $150 or so…But if you think about it its really divided between you three years in high school left and probably college. If you plan on going on to AP Calc AB or BC, you will be required to have it. Just trust me I cannot stress enough how important TI 89s are…</p>

<p>^Ti 89 is definitely NOT required for AP Calc AB or BC everywhere. I took AP Calc BC this year- I had a Ti 84 (silver, maybe?) and it was fine.</p>

<p>get a scientific calculator</p>

<p>your integration skills will be all the better for it</p>

<p>You don’t need a TI-89, but it makes some things in math a lot easier. For example, in my Calculus course I am taking right now, when were doing derivatives, the TI-89 can differentiate just like that while the TI-83/84 cannot. This saves a heck of a lot of time on tests or on the AP Exams. </p>

<p>I should have traded my TI-84 Plus Silver Edition for my friend’s TI-89 Titantium. He bought a TI-89 after his TI-84 got stolen, and he didn’t even know how to use it! So he borrowed the teacher’s TI-83 for the rest of the year. I was such an idiot, I should have traded it with him (I asked him a few days ago, and he said that would have been a good idea). $150 calculator for my TI-84, would have been a great deal.</p>

<p>

Yes but it helps speed things up a bit. Although it may impede your learning as it does everything for you.</p>

<p>I think if you know how to use it then it’s great. I personally don’t have the time to learn (which can take a while) - and thus I stick with my good ol’ 83SE that I’ve had for 6 years.</p>

<p>i know someone who got their Ti 89 confiscated when he took the ACTs</p>

<p>After using 84’s all year in Alg2 and Precal, I just bought an 89 for AP Calc A/B. I have to agree, it is very tedious going through layers of buttons just to get a basic symbol or function. I haven’t used it for class yet, but just playing with it gives me a slight headache because of all the unfamiliar buttons. D:</p>

<p>the cool thing though is that you can enter an expression and BAM! x=2</p>

<p>^Ti 89 is definitely NOT required for AP Calc AB or BC everywhere. I took AP Calc BC this year- I had a Ti 84 (silver, maybe?) and it was fine.</p>

<p>Sorry, its required in my school. My teacher taught with it all the time. If you didn’t have one you would be given one. It is also very useful for Stat, but I guess if your school doesn’t use the TI-89 Titanium as the universal calculator, than it might be a little hard to learn the functions.</p>

<p>I would say buy it and get used to it. I can derive, integrate, and solve in less than a minute. It has taken me two years ofc and all the help of my school classmates who all use the TI 89 Titanium. I would personally suggest it. Its a big advantage!</p>

<p>It’s a big advantage…</p>

<p>Except on the tests that don’t let you use them at all.</p>

<p>But you can use it to get quick and correct answers to help you study</p>

<p>study schmudy</p>

<p>89 not required for Calc?</p>

<p>First time I’ve heard that one. Unless an 84 is able to do derivatives and integrals? If so, it would be the first time I’ve heard that one as well.</p>

<p>i didn’t have one and i got a 2. my friend had one, but did worse. it’s not the calculator, it’s the teacher…</p>

<p>my bro didn’t have one, got a 5.</p>

<p>Haha, TheMan, thanks for your input. However, I already have an 89 so no need to advise me to get one ;p</p>

<p>BTW, guys, my school doesn’t have APs. I know, shocker! But that’s because I go to an early college high school, where in the first two years you take all the necessary courses (in math, that means up to Pre-Calc if you havent taken Geometry in middle school, and Calc if you have). Then, for the last two years, you just take college courses at our local uni. From the input here, I’m guessing I’ll need an 89 for a college level calc class? :/</p>

<p>Who wants to teach me how to use my 89?! ^________^</p>

<p>Obviously the teacher affects the class - but your friend probably didn’t either understand how to do the problems or didn’t know how to correctly use its (as i said it takes time) because of the teacher. </p>

<p>On the calculator portion of the AP, you can use integrate and derive fairly quickly to save time, provided that you understand the question. No - the calculator won’t do it for you - you need to input in a way the calculator can read it and learn the form (which is pretty simple via trial and error). </p>

<p>And f you can do it without the TI-89, than well kudos - thats impressive (assuming you did everything by hand) - you will definately be ready for the next level. </p>

<p>Also - there are some free software can also derive and integrate. I think Wolfram has one on their math site. Its just not portable - unless you have a laptop (but that costs more than $150)</p>

<p>I am surprised to see so many anti 89ers. Its the one thing I bought in high school thats going to help me in college - at least on the homeworks. I probably won’t use it on tests (because they probably won’t be allowed), but I can’t deny that its gotten me out of a lotta rough situations in precalc and calc.</p>