What calculator for university calculus?

[Nakor]

Hey Pogotribe,

I'm going to start attending UBC in September after several years out of the educational loop (working and trying to save up for it mainly). Getting a BA majoring in English and minoring in German and Asian Language & Culture (Japanese) -- and probably later a high school teaching diploma -- but there is a 6-credit science requirement. I plan to fulfil that by taking these courses:

MATH 100 - Differential Calculus with Applications to Physical Science & Engineering
MATH 101 - Integral Calculus with Applications to Physical Science & Engineering

But because I haven't had to use a graphing calc in a long time, I don't know what the current models are like at all. My old graphing calc bit the dust. The courses above don't appear to have a recommended or required model, though I don't have all the details yet. In case they don't end up specifying a model, would anyone out there have advice for a good calculator that would fit the bill?

[Ryan]

TI-83 will work fine, TI-89 does a good chunk of calculus for you

Idk about your university, but at mine calculators are not allowed on the calculus tests (good thing I took calc before I came so make sure you can do a great deal w/ pen and paper too.

[Rob]

I'd wait until you figure out the policy on using calculators. As Tyme said, most places don't let you use them on tests. It would only be for you to use on homework-type things and in many cases you shouldn't really use it anyway because exact decimal responses are unnecessary.

For reference, though, I have the TI-84+ and I barely used it.

[Nakor]

Ah, so it may not even be necessary. I was probably thinking of Physics when I remembered needing a graphing calculator. If I don't need one that's a bonus, since I'll only be taking it in the first year. Thanks for the info!

[Ryan]

if you're doing engineering or physics as a major, you'll be doing plenty of calculus further on, that you can use a calculator for, but for those it tends to be personal preference

[chelseeyuh]

Get an nspire! They do all of the work. Yay for not having to think

[zAkAtAk]

I use an n~spire

[bombmaniac]

TI-89s are nice it should suit you perfectly...lots of nice apps from TI and third party developers and the games! they are to DIE for!

[andromeda]

The N-spire is pretty swell. It'll definitely get you through your class, plus it's user-friendly, it has an easy to read display and a bunch of nifty software that'll adapt to any class be it calc or pre-algebra.

The keypad functions differ from the older models, so be sure to keep your user guide handy until you get used to it, but it does come with an 84-plus keypad as well for classes where you really need to follow along with keystrokes.

While the regular N-Spire is super-duper, there is a new CAS version that has worked out some of the old kinks and adds a few new features as well. I don't own one, but I've tried it out and I'm really impressed. So it's really just a matter of price for you. Hope it helps!!!