<p>We've been asked by friends if our kids might like new graphing calculators for college as graduation gifts ... they are both math kids and want to continue math in college (both completed AP Calculus BC and loved it - though they are not likely to be math majors.) Currently, they use TI 83 versions that they've had since the start of high school. Is there a suggested calculator to buy (TI 89?) or is it prudent for them to wait until their first math courses and purchase then?</p>
<p>Usually colleges will specify, sometimes course by course, which calculators they allow, and which they prefer. The Texas Instruments calculators are very dominant in the United States market. One thing to watch out for is courses that ban the TI-89 (and TI-92), because those can do symbolic algebra. My son is in a course that specifies the TI-89 (in the absence of another approved TI calculator) but bans that for much homework and all tests. Some courses permit the TI-83/84 but not the TI-89/92 to force students to do their own algebra.</p>
<p>Calculus BC is a lot easier with the TI-89. (Kids still do all the work, but it's nice to be able to check the answer.)</p>
<p>I loved my 83, till I got my 89.</p>
<p>FYI, at her college, my D says they use Mathematica (computer program) in the upper level math.</p>
<p>I would go with the TI-89 and use the current TI-83s as back-ups -- though I'm still a big fan of 83s.</p>
<p>My S has both a TI-83 and a TI-89. His math classes make a lot of use of mathematica which is available for free or nearly free through the college. If your Ss already have TI-83, I think it should be sufficient.</p>
<p>No matter which you get, THE website for everything to do with TI calculators is <a href="http://ticalc.org%5B/url%5D">http://ticalc.org</a></p>
<p>And if anyone is interested in programming them, my son (the film student) wrote (when he was in HS) two of the TI calculator tutorials for that site (tical.org>Programming>Tutorials). His tutorials are downloaded about 200 times per day, so there must be a lot of interest out there.</p>
<p>I use Mathematica extensively in my work (and even published a paper once in the Mathematica Journal!) Nothing like it was around when I was in college - I used a slide rule - but I imagine that it would be very helpful for learning college-level math. I would recommend it over a more advanced calculator. You can find out whether your kids' school(s) have site licenses using this link:</p>
<p>If they don't, then you might suggest that your friend get them the software. It's horribly expensive, but I believe there's a reasonably priced student version.</p>
<p>Good for your son, digmedia! I hope he's getting royalties!</p>
<p>Student version pricing on Mathematica is VERY reasonable. You can get that pricing while still in high school (homeschoolers too, with proper documentation).</p>
<p>I agree with the Mathematica suggestion. Some college courses don't permit use of graphing calculators so it's wise to hold off on the calculator purchase until the student finds out what he will need.</p>
<p>Some summer program offer Mathematica for free. TI 89 is a very good calculator but if techer do not permit it then you have to buy TI 83. Wait for the techer's instructions.</p>
<p>D took a TI-83 Silver-Plus with her and found it more than satisfactory...and she's a Math major. Says the TI-89 "does too much for you...." She all uses Mathematica but hasn't purchased it for her laptop.</p>
<p>The best feature of the TI 89 that makes it way better than the TI 83 is that when you punch in all the numbers and parentheses, the TI 89 will let you see what you punched in -- as if you had written it on a piece of paper (this feature has a name but I can't recall it).</p>
<p>I can't tell you the number of times I put in something in the 83 and got an answer I knew was wrong--found out I had misplaced a parentheses. How many times did I NOT catch the mistake...</p>
<p>Glad to hear about the TI 89 (didn't even know it existed). Both boys will need graphing calcs next year (S1 has a TI 84 plus) but we will buy two TI 89 since you can see what you punch in.</p>
<p>I strongly recommend getting a zipper padded cover for your graph calc. Not only does it make it easier to indentify when a bunch are laying around in class or study hall (yes, also label the thing in several places), but it protects it when it gets squished in a backpack.</p>
<p>I've hardly used my graphing calculator since starting college. Between Matlab, Maple, and python there isn't much you can't do.</p>
<p>Python? of the Monty version? I must google python.</p>
<p>Python the programming language. Not quite as funny, but very useful.</p>
<p>For handheld convenience, the TI83+/84+ family fits the bill just fine for the basics in bio, chem, and math. Colleges use software for their math courses, high schools can't afford the site licenses so they rely on the graphing calculators. Back in 2000, at UM, my S never used his old 83 in his math courses. The software now is even much more powerful and accessible to the student (books come bundled with software).</p>
<p>When s#1 went to college he gave his 83+ to s# 2 (still in HS) and got an 89. Both s's are happy.</p>
<p>S took a full year advanced calculus sequence and calculators as powerful as the TI-83 were not allowed. No calculators at all could be used for the calc & above placement tests. You may want to check what the course policies are before purchasing anything. There were also restrictions on calculators for physics.</p>
<p>S says it makes no difference. At his college as a freshman he was not allowed to use advanced functions on exams. Invest that $150 when the need comes (we wasted that money though).</p>