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December 15, 2008 03:42 PM

What is the best scientific calculator to buy for college?

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mkchu84

December 15, 2008 03:48 PM

If you are doing a mathematical science as I did (Physics) I found that a basic graphing calculator has been extremely useful. Admittedly, the graphing function doesn't get used a lot but the multi-line display, and large number of memories was invaluable. I've added a link to an example by casio.

They are relatively expensive, but I found that I've used mine enough to warrant the initial investment

Source(s):
http://www.casioeducation.com/products/calculators_&_dictionaries/graph...

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tjblackb

December 15, 2008 03:54 PM

Definitely a TI-89. It is a step above the standard TI-83 due to the fact that it will solve simple integrals and differentials implicitly as well as solve for variables. This is of course assuming you are talking about someone who is going into a science or engineering degree program and wants a full function calculator as opposed to a simple scientific calculator. Also you can usually pick one up for not too much if you look on craigslist at the end of the semester. These things are pretty durable and last a long time.

Current version: TI-89 Titanium
http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/productDetail/us_ti89ti.html

How-to:
http://www.nmhschool.org/academics/math/mat521/ti89_instructions.swf

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borsk

December 15, 2008 04:05 PM

Texas Instruments TI 89. This is the last calculator you'll ever need. It solves everything you'll come across, makes it easy to edit long expressions, and saves a long history. You can get it at http://www.amazon.com/Texas-Instruments-TI-89-Titanium-Calculator/dp/B0001EMLZ2/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1229356997&sr=8-1 . You might be tempted by the cheaper TI83 plus, but I'd still go with the 89. The 83 doesn't do some of the really cool equation solving or calculus functions.

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hartwell

December 15, 2008 04:12 PM

there is no "best." ask three of your first term professors and you'll get 5 answers. pick one of them.

it goes against our geek programming, but RTFM. work through the examples inthe manual, whether they apply to your studies or not.

be sure you understand how to connect via USB to your computer so you can add features.

if you don't need graphing, get an old style HP 15C. that has RPN and it's always fun to allow classmates to borrow it, enter a formula then spend 10 minutes searching for the equals key.
Source(s):
personal knowledge

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jayhawkbra...

December 15, 2008 04:12 PM

For many classes, the TI-83 is the required calculator. This is the case in classes for economics and statistics quite often. The TI-85 is missing some of the functionality (I know that is strange). The TI-89 (as described above) does have the required functionality for those types of classes, but it is pricey!

Check out the discussion on Slashdot: (the comments)
http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/25/0611218

Many of the commenters recommend the TI-89 or the HP graphic calculator.

If you have an iPhone, be sure to check out this link:
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/graphing_scientific_calculator_apps

If you are lucky enough (or smart enough ;) ) to use Linux:
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/linux-newbie/86959-linux-graphing-calculator.html

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theeskimo

December 15, 2008 04:18 PM

It really depends on what you will be using it for. I made it through the 3rd semester of calculus, four semesters of physics, and graduated with a BA in Chemistry using only a TI-83. It's on the low end in terms of functioning, but it's also one of the cheapest graphing calculators. Unless you are considering majoring in something like Math, Physics, or Engineering, you really don't need anything beyond this. Don't spend $200 on a calculator to get flashy functions you won't need.

I've been very happy with my TI-83. I bought it my senior year of high school and used it all the way through college.
Source(s):
http://www.amazon.com/Texas-Inst-TI-83-Graphic-Calculator/dp/B000089DLO/ref...

I graduated with a BA in Chemistry in 2007 and am now a Chemistry TA

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whiskeybra...

December 15, 2008 04:22 PM

There is just something about an RPN calculator in an engineering environment... You should definitely consider an HP. The 50g is the top of the line with graphing functionality as described by other responders for the TI-89, but graphing in a calculator is overrated in my opinion.

http://tinyurl.com/5m6snk

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macroman

December 15, 2008 06:47 PM

I'd say the best calculator would most definitly be a netbook with mathematica, Maple or numpad or similar Computer Algebra System, alternatively Matlab, Octave, python or some other numerical system would also be usefull. Sure the TI89 is great, but why learn how to use a calculator, when you will eventually start doing your stuff on the computer because the interface of the IT's is simply not good enough to compete. Also with mathematica you get a system which can generate very nice graphical interfaces extremely simple.

Most likely your collage will have licenses for some of these software packages.
Source(s):
http://www.wolfram.com/products/mathematica/newin7/
http://www.maplesoft.com/Products/Maple/
http://www.gnu.org/software/octave/
http://www.python.org/
http://www.mathworks.com/

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garance

December 15, 2008 07:10 PM

HA! It depends what you want to study. Calculators nowadays are very specialized: they are not the same for architects or physicists. Keep a simple one if you don't know where you are going yet. Provided you get stats and sci notation, you will be fine. There are great ones on the web: the best for college students are in this source.
Source(s):
http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/2008/07/16/by-the-numbers-100-online...

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sangosimo

December 15, 2008 07:25 PM

It is really dependant on your major the only people that will NEED calculators on a regular basis in college are engineers, and probably the best engineering calculator is the the ti89; most can get by with a ti 86. Physics majors to a lesser degree but their are tons of assumptions made in physics that turn differential equations into a simple derivative.

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emtsnightm...

December 15, 2008 08:01 PM

Personally, I found that the TI-89 calculator was the best. I started using it in High School and was able to continue using it through college (in addition to the massive computer programs required by my degree) as a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer. It is a good, programmable calculator that performs all the calcs I ever really needed it to do (again, baring ones that required a full fledged computer program to do).
Source(s):
personal experience.

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linkt

December 15, 2008 08:22 PM

I don't recommend you buy a scientific calculator for college. If possible, buy a graphing calculator.
The main reason for this is because a graphing calculator allows you to see the input into the calculator, which can be very useful when you are doing multi-step operations.

I recommend a TI-89. The TI-89 is a very powerful calculator, and if you are only looking for the features found on a "scientific" calculator, most of that power is definitely overkill. However, the TI-89 has "pretty print" -that is, input and output is displayed as you would write it on paper. Instead of a string like Sqrt(x^2+23/4), you actually get to see all the symbols as they would appear on paper. This is very useful for catching mistakes, which can happen very easily on a graphing calculator without this function, and more so on a scientific calculator without input display. The TI-89 is also able to simplify, factor, and do many algebraic, symbolic manipulations.
It is a bit more expensive than most graphing calculators, and definitely more expensive than every scientific calculator, but it is a computer that should last you a lifetime.
Source(s):
My college experience studying physics.

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leonelhs

February 07, 2009 09:37 PM

if you don't want spent a lot of money I recommend a Nintendo DS, check this!

Eigenmath DS is a free computer algebra system for Nintendo DS

The aim of this project is to have a free CAS comparable to commercial systems such as Texas Instruments or HP calculators.

Some features:
Natural result display two-dimensional mathematical form.
Manipulation of mathematical expressions in symbolic form.
Plotting graphs and parametric plots of functions in two dimensions.
Simplification to the smallest possible expression.
Solution of linear equations
Differentiation.
Indefinite and definite integration, including multidimensional integrals.
Matrix operations including products, inverses, etc.

visit: http://eigenmatds.sourceforge.net/

http://eigenmatds.sourceforge.net/img/natural.bmp
http://eigenmatds.sourceforge.net/img/graph.bmp

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guinnessce...

December 15, 2008 08:57 PM

The TI 89 Titanium is the best option. This calculator is allowed in the SATs, many college classes like calculus, chemistry, physics, and statistics. Equations can be solved to a variable while other calculators only solve numeric problems or test the problem. TI 89 has every feature in past models, but includes:

16 preloaded Graphing Calculator Software Applications (Apps), including EE*Pro®, CellSheet™ & NoteFolio™
3x the Flash memory of the TI-89
Built-in USB port with cable
CD with operating manual
Preloaded with Official AP Calculus exam review questions

WARNING: Be wary of buying a used TI89. The shell for the TI89 is similar to the TI84. An unscrupulous person may swap the shells, selling the TI84 in the TI89's shell, and keeping TI89 for themselves.
Source(s):
http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/productDetail/us_ti89ti.ht...

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joeknows

December 15, 2008 09:22 PM

I would say that the top of the line is the HP32ii

Features:

More than 100 built-in math and science functions
Powerful built-in program library
Essential trig and math functions
Base conversions and arithmetic
Data entry using reverse Polish notation

-joe

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glikd

December 15, 2008 10:37 PM

If you are looking for a graphic, the Ti-83+ or Ti-89 are both good. But if you are planning on going in maths, chances are you either won't be allowed a calculator or it just won't be any use. Graphic calculators are usually shunned for the sciences (at least in Canada), however.

Scientific is your best bet with regards to versatility. Both the Ti-30XIIS (with battery and solar) and the Sharp Advanced D.A.L. have given me excellent results and I'm quite happy with them. At the very least, if you are getting a scientific calculator, make sure it has two-line display, memory entries, the functions you will use most as the primary button (so that you don't have to press 2nd all the time) and easy editing.
If you are looking for something more in the financial/business end, the Ti BAII Plus Professional is wonderful and worth the price difference from the BAII Plus if you use the added functions (NFV, etc), and I hear that the HP financial calculator is good too, but have no experience with it.
Source(s):
http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/productCategory/us_financi...

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nopanacea

December 16, 2008 03:42 AM

It depends on your field of study. Some calculators are focused on answer questions quickly for a specific field, such as business. In addition, if the degree has a licensing exam (boards, etc.) you may want to see what calculator is allowed on the exam. That when you are finally taking the exam, you will be fast with your trusty calculator.

That said, two great graphing calculator choices (for the sciences):
*The TI-89.
*The HP50g. The HP48 (predecessor to the HP50) is by far my favorite calculator. It takes a day to get used to the format (RPN*), and years to explore all of its abilities, but it is well worth it. *Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) has you enter your values then take action on them. For instance 5 enter, 7 enter, plus to get to 13. This allows you to work up and down a stack of numbers with ease. On the HP50g, you can choose to do it the more algebraic way, but I have found RPN to be the fastest.
Source(s):
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF05a/215348-215348-64232-30821-215...

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kolohe

December 16, 2008 04:38 AM

If you're going to college, you'll probably make use of a PC with a spreadsheet and calculator program more than a handheld calculator. The new small laptops are less than $400. A free spreadsheet can be found at www.openoffice.org. You'll probably need a PC anyway in college.
Source(s):
$348 laptop

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10575193

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offthedome

December 17, 2008 03:19 PM

Scientific calculator: You might as well just buy a graphing calculator now because you will need one eventually, and at that point any other calculator would be a waste of money.

Now about which one to buy, you should definitely buy the best version of the TI series calculator that your school allows. The reason is simply because they have a monopoly on the system and so that's what pretty much everyone buys. You'd be surprised how much it sucks to be the only person in class with a Casio. (It sucks twice as hard for the teacher/professor when only one person has a Casio ... trust me.)

Pretty much no one allows the TI-89 and TI-92. TI-83+ Silver Edition is always allowed. And the TI-86 is sometimes allowed. You should check with your school or what class you're taking, and you could also compare to what is allowed for the ACT:
http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/calculator.html

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