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Graphic calculator?

I assume a graphic calculator is the best bit of kit you could have for university maths. But to those doing maths in uni already (and anyone else with an opinion) does it matter what features a graphic calculator has or will any one do?

Reply 1

shiny

12

ZJuwelH

I assume a graphic calculator is the best bit of kit you could have for university maths. But to those doing maths in uni already (and anyone else with an opinion) does it matter what features a graphic calculator has or will any one do?

Hehe

Probably better off with a copy of Mathematica :smile:

Reply 2

Mysticmin

10

I've had one for A level, but it was a bit useless apart from when you really can't picture a graph in your head. Handy for stats calculations though.

Reply 3

PQ

PS Reviewer

21

ZJuwelH

I assume a graphic calculator is the best bit of kit you could have for university maths. But to those doing maths in uni already (and anyone else with an opinion) does it matter what features a graphic calculator has or will any one do?

Watch out if you're planning on buying a graphic calculator for uni. Southampton recently limited calculator use in exams to Southampton calculators only (because people were using posh calculators to take notes and information into exams - tut tut) http://www.today.soton.ac.uk/question421.htm

There's nothing to stop you having 2 calculators but it's worth using the one you'll have to use in exams regularly to save spending half an hour in an exam trying to remember how to use one of the functions...

Reply 4

Juwel

OP

18

Mysticmin

I've had one for A level, but it was a bit useless apart from when you really can't picture a graph in your head.

Which is most of the time...

Mysticmin

Handy for stats calculations though.

I always found it too long to learn how to use the statistics mode of a calculator, might have to now.

Reply 5

Mysticmin

10

ZJuwelH

Which is most of the time...

I always found it too long to learn how to use the statistics mode of a calculator, might have to now.

Learn it dude. It saves tons of time (although that might be because I don't know how to use the memory key on my scientific calculator).

Reply 6

Juwel

OP

18

So will any old Casio do or is there any specific feature I need to look out for?

And as far as software goes, Manchester provides MAPLE free, is that alright?

Reply 7

burje-t

1

I have a TI-89 Titanium calculator, it came out this summer. It's very useful, does all sorts of stuff like algebraic manipulation, calculus, series etc. I take it that it won't be allowed in exam halls (from what i've heard you arent allowed to use calcs at all in uni maths exams) but it is extremely good for revision, courseworks etc. Mind you it is expensive, expect to pay around £120 for it. There are cheaper TI versions but if you want to do integration etc TI-89's the one. If you wanna know more about it just ask.

Reply 8

mg84

burje-t

I have a TI-89 Titanium calculator, it came out this summer. It's very useful, does all sorts of stuff like algebraic manipulation, calculus, series etc. I take it that it won't be allowed in exam halls (from what i've heard you arent allowed to use calcs at all in uni maths exams) but it is extremely good for revision, courseworks etc. Mind you it is expensive, expect to pay around £120 for it. There are cheaper TI versions but if you want to do integration etc TI-89's the one. If you wanna know more about it just ask.

Does sound good, but not sure I can afford that. Do you know any good graphic calculators for £50-60? I'm going to have to buy one soon so I have enough time to learn how to use it, as I didn't use one for A Level.

Reply 9

FoxyStar

A Sussex Uni Professor once told us on a tour that the first thing the maths students in their uni do is throwing their calculators away coz uni maths does not require a calculator. But what is ironic was that we saw one student sitting right behind him, using a calculator......

I guess, graphic calculator doesn't seem to be necessary for solving difficult maths. I would say better go for a computer^^

Anyway, it's brilliant for A-level maths, esp. Stats!! Sooooooooo handy~~ Plus you can use it to solve simultaneous equations and other stuff.

Reply 10

burje-t

1

mg84

Does sound good, but not sure I can afford that. Do you know any good graphic calculators for £50-60? I'm going to have to buy one soon so I have enough time to learn how to use it, as I didn't use one for A Level.

I actually got mine for only £75 instead of £120. It was a teacher's deal so I wrote to them pretending I was a teacher. Worked out nicely. :smile:

Im afraid i don't know that much about non texas instrument calculators such as casios etc. The one i used in the IB was the TI-83 graphing calculator which is very good but cannot do symbolic manipulation (cannot give answers in x's and y's etc). It is pretty good though for plotting stats etc. I have one which you probably could borrow when we get to warwick if that's not too late. The retail price is probably still around £75 for that one.

But if you completed a-level maths without a calculator (impressive indeed!) then you'll be fine. Uni maths, as stated, obviosuly does not require/allow them. I still believe that it will be useful for revision though.

Reply 11

mg84

burje-t

I actually got mine for only £75 instead of £120. It was a teacher's deal so I wrote to them pretending I was a teacher. Worked out nicely. :smile:

Im afraid i don't know that much about non texas instrument calculators such as casios etc. The one i used in the IB was the TI-83 graphing calculator which is very good but cannot do symbolic manipulation (cannot give answers in x's and y's etc). It is pretty good though for plotting stats etc. I have one which you probably could borrow when we get to warwick if that's not too late. The retail price is probably still around £75 for that one.

But if you completed a-level maths without a calculator (impressive indeed!) then you'll be fine. Uni maths, as stated, obviosuly does not require/allow them. I still believe that it will be useful for revision though.

Thanks for the information, I'll go and have a look around when I go on my university shopping spree next week. Even though university Maths does not require a calculator, I'm they must surely be used more in Statistics. I would prefer one that can do symbolic manipulation, but that isn't essential.

And I did have a calculator for A Level Maths, just not a graphic one! :smile:

Graphic calculator?

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