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<p>My brain can do derivatives and integrals.</p>
<p>And yes the 84 can do them too.</p>
<p>Metallika - Go to the HOME screen. Thats basically your “basic” calculator right there. The TI 89 is much like a mini computer, so you have several options to pick from. Home is just one of them and probably the most important. You will use the others later - but this one is easiest to teach.</p>
<p>On the top of the home screen, you will see tabs. They correspond to your f1, f2, f3, f4, …ect. keys (you can program it to do different functions with the other tabs). Lemme teach you the most basic one that you will be using in Algebra.</p>
<p>F2—>SOLVE.(<em>input equation</em>,<em>variable</em>) and it will solve. There are some technical problems when you do F2SOLVE(x(x-9)=0,x) as the calculator does not register that the x is being multiplied ( I know stupid right >_<). </p>
<p>Note this is for the TITANIUM, i am unsure if the same logic applies to a regular 89. (I think you don’t have a formal apps screen and you have to browse around for it)</p>
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<p>It can do definite integrals and dy/dx at a point, but no indefinite integrals or just dy/dx.</p>
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<p>If you rely on it on the homework, it’s not really going to help you. You should do the hw same way you have to do the test. If you have to make a calculation, get out a calculator that can do that, which would pretty much be any scientific calculator.</p>
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<p>OK, but you only really need a calculator for definite integrals and other numerical calculations. The rest of the stuff is trivial.</p>
<p>True.</p>
<p>I was kinda mad when the non-calculator portion of the AB and BC tests didn’t have really difficult indefinite integrals. We used Larson’s textbook and basically went through all these random ways of integrating bizarre integrands (adding and subtracting a number then factoring, etc.)</p>
<p>i think its really useful for advance calc concepts. in my case my parents just had to buy the TI-89. i’m glad i could use it for the SATs though, not happy with the fact that i can’t use it on the ACT =[</p>
<p>For when you need to render a 3 dimensional image for engineering but don’t have a computer handy.</p>
<p>If you can’t get through calc 1 and 2 with a scientific calculator, you don’t deserve to be in that class. Weed out the mathematically inept. That includes not being able to solve your sets quickly enough.</p>
<p>Also, there are people who still don’t know that calculators as far back as the Ti-83 Plus have “Solver” functions, similar to the F2-Solve( function on the Ti-89. It’s “MATH > 0: Solver…”</p>
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<p>You have to add in the “*” yourself. It reads it as “x(” which is indeed a function. </p>
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<p>“MATH > 8: nDeriv( or 9: fnInt(” You also fail at calculator processing.</p>
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<p>Use your brain to get out of rough situations. It has the equivalent power of 10,000 computer processors. Do something with it.</p>
<p>You all frustrate me.</p>
<p>(For the record, I do own a Ti-89 Titanium. I just think people rely on it too much).</p>
<p>If you rely on it on the homework, it’s not really going to help you. You should do the hw same way you have to do the test. If you have to make a calculation, get out a calculator that can do that, which would pretty much be any scientific calculator.</p>
<p>Yea, but I can’t know whether or not I am going to be right if I don’t use the calculator to affirm that its right. Not all solution books have every answer. Its just makes a big difference to me. I haven’t used another calculator in a while. I also own a TI-92 Plus (oldie, but still good), which IS complicated, because it has a keyboard. I used to have a regular TI 89 and I have a TI 83… </p>
<p>Anyways - makes stuff easier I guess, especially in tedious computations. Looks like a lot of you see differently - anyways I guess i am just being redundant now OP has been answered.</p>
<p>I agree with aeroengineer. Obviously, the TI-89 has its advantages in certain situations but for the most part, especially in high school, it is not needed. In AP calc, there is absolutely no need. Use your brain. If you need to solve an integral, do it in your head or work it through on paper. Otherwise, you’re not learning calculus, you’re learning how to use a calculator. People with the TI-89 become too dependent and fail to learn math in its purest sense. Anyway, it’s not a bad calculator but I much prefer the TI-83/84 series.</p>
<p>Here’s a thought. Don’t rely on your calculator, do it on your own. Doesn’t that make more sense? A TI-89 is a great calculator, but you won’t even really be able to use one in college. So learn it without one, because practice makes perfect!</p>
<p>I love my TI-89 Titanium.</p>
<p>It solves everything for you. If you know how to use it, it is a huge advantage.</p>
<p>TI 89. </p>
<p>When used correctly in SAT subject test math level 2, you can save anywhere from 10 to 15 min.</p>
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<p>Umm, good for you? Most people that pass the exam can as well. </p>
<p>I got a 5, had an 89 and was instructed on how to use it throughout the year because it was necessary for the calculator portions of our tests.</p>
<p>It’s only been a couple months or so but I could have sworn there were integrals and derivatives that could only be solved by calculator… maybe I’m wrong though.</p>
<p>Either way, why half ass it if you’re looking to invest in a calculator? The choice between an 84 and 89 is pretty obvious.</p>
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<p>But is that a good thing, do you know how to solve everything? Just a question, not meant in any way as an insult.</p>
<p>I bought an 89 for pre-calc, used it on the SAT and got a 760 (but I later retook the test without a calculator and got a 790)</p>
<p>I currently have an 84+ Silver. I’ll be going into Engineering in college this fall, so will a 89 be pretty much necessary? I’ll be in Multivar Calc (Calc III by the college’s course guide).</p>
<p>Axeback, NO, it is not necessary. My brother went through his whole undergrad in mechanical engineering with a TI-83 Silver. So it’s really not necessary at all. Actually, he said most professors won’t even let you use them.</p>
<p>Still fun to have though…</p>
<p>Thanks to all the input, I’ve actually started playing around with my calc and looking at the stuff I’ll actually need to use (the graphing functions, log buttons, solving, expanding, etc) and seeing that it’s not so hard 
If all else fails, I’ll check one out from the school, but I’ll try to work with both so by the time I’m taking Calc over at the Uni I can use this baby ;]</p>
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<p>Err, what? How about a no.</p>
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<p>No one does long division by hand in high school or college. Not because they cannot (well, some can’t) but because it’s pointless. Same is true for basically all numerical integration and the majority of indefinite integrals.</p>