Ti Calculator Question

[plymouthhater]

My 14 yr old son is starting high school in September. The required book and accessory list from the school lists a Ti84+ calculator as mandatory with the Ti84+ silver as optional.

Before we run out and buy either, I have a brand new Ti92 still in a sealed package (in typical RFD tradition I picked it up for $20 when Office Depot closed their Barrie store).

Help me out here - It's been so long since I purchased a complex calculator (since I have been out of university since 1980, all I have purchased is dollar store calculators).

In my day the desired calculator was the SR52. (I guess I'm showing my age here )

So:

Can my kid make due with the Ti92? is it a viable equivalent of the Ti84+?
What are the differences and was a $20 Ti92 a worthwhile purchase?

[LNahid2000]

The TI-92 would be much harder for him to use since the interface is different. The instructions in all the math textbooks are for the TI-83/TI-84. I'd sell the TI-92 on eBay (you should be able to get $80 for it) and buy the TI-84.

[red_roses101]

The school adminstration/math department is stupid, for lack of a better word. Grade 9 Academic Math, I mean...do they seriously need a graphing calculator to graph a straight line. Ok, b is y-intercept, m is the slope (you can predict how it will be steep/narrow/flat based on the number). That's all you do. I think it's a BS move based on the administration.

[civ@uw]

The TI92 is much more powerful than the TI84(+), and I really doubt that any teacher would allow it to be used. It can output general derivatives and integrals of functions (the TI84 can only give specific numerical values), and it can do a whole bunch of other things that are too useful for highschool students.

And I agree that a graphing calculator is overkill for even a Gr.12 student taking Calculus or Geo. and Discrete.

[red_roses101]

It's building bad habits actually. Once he moves on to grade 10...when they do parabolas, if the teacher asks find the vertex. They'll be reliant on the calculator and not fully understand it.

from amazon.com : Over 500 KB memory for storing functions, programs, and data
They're restricting you to ti84 because it's easy for him to cheat with this.
.54 MB of RAM, 480 KB Flash ROM; 30 pre-loaded Apps (ti84)

ok...that might not be the reason..

[civ@uw]

Even with the limited RAM, it's still plenty easy to cheat with a TI84.

[LNahid2000]

from amazon.com : Over 500 KB memory for storing functions, programs, and data
They're restricting you to ti84 because it's easy for him to cheat with this.
.54 MB of RAM, 480 KB Flash ROM; 30 pre-loaded Apps (ti84)

ok...that might not be the reason..
Yeah, you can easily cheat with the TI-84. We were allowed to use it on our grade 12 data exam so the teacher came around and checked everyones calculator during the exam to make sure that people didn't have text in their calculators.

And I agree, I don't think you need one in Grade 9. I didn't buy one until Grade 12 data because even though they were provided in class, it was very useful for homework. It also came in handy for calculus homework to check solutions to word problems.

[hello1214]

probably wont need the calculator at all for all four years of high school....i just used mine to play tetris lol

[Zephyrus]

If you're child excels at math, it'll be a waste of money. That said, if you buy like a Ti-83+ or a Ti-84, he/she can still use in grade 12 if they decide to take calculus/data management.

Also, there are internet sites that can graph the single functions that he/she will probably be doing anyway.

[alv077]

You honestly dont need it in grade 9.

I bought one for my senior math classes last semester, they helped for checking if my answers were correct, but nothing else. Data management would utilize it the most imo. Though if your kid's school is stupid, he can cheat on the chem/phy tests by storing formulas and notes. Rather get a 95 cheating than 90 without, right.

In any case, grade 9/10 marks dont count anyways. Make him learn the foundations during these two years and stick him with a crap $20 calculator (no graphing) the schools NEVER actually use it, because people almost never buy em.

[gravCY]

Being a recent high school graduate (going to second year university), and now a Teacher Candidate at queen's, there is definitely no need for a graphing calculator... the advantages that it provides do not justify the cost. The way that the calculators are used in the curriculum is a supplementary roles.

After a concept is introduced, students will go through the traditional pencil-and-paper method; then they'd re-do the same thing on the calculator. The textbook would provide the steps to it. As it's been said already, a TI 92 wouldn't be appropriate as the interface is drastically different.

Having said that, I'd find out how much the calculators are used. There are alternatives; Graphmatica is a software that takes in a function and graphs it. It used to be free, and now charges $25 *shrugs*. That program got me through high school, and a 4.0 GPA in first yr calculus.

PS: it's not even allowed to be used on tests and exams in many high school and university courses. It strictly stipulates that only non-programmable calculators can be used.

PSS: I highly recommend the Casio 991 calculator. Goes for 20 dollars, will carry you through high school, and well beyond in university.

[Sylvestre]

I 2nd (3rd, 4th???) the comment that he doesn't need that calc. I'm doing my masters in engineering and I rarely use my TI-89. Quite frankly, this is a perfect opportunity for him to truly "understand" numbers as opposed to just putting in the data and getting an answer.

we have too many people who can't even take a guess at what 50.5*19.5 is.

[plymouthhater]

I 2nd (3rd, 4th???) the comment that he doesn't need that calc. I'm doing my masters in engineering and I rarely use my TI-89. Quite frankly, this is a perfect opportunity for him to truly "understand" numbers as opposed to just putting in the data and getting an answer.

we have too many people who can't even take a guess at what 50.5*19.5 is.


Unfortunately, they made the calculator mandatory. As a result of this, he can't be the only kid in the class without the calculator. I agree that having the calculator is taking the easy way out. However, I will not subject my kid to the embarassment of being the only kid without.

I am teaching him responsibility by having him make a contribution to the cost of the calculator - which will motivate him to be careful not to misplace or damage it.

[HBP]

Unfortunately, they made the calculator mandatory. As a result of this, he can't be the only kid in the class without the calculator. I agree that having the calculator is taking the easy way out. However, I will not subject my kid to the embarassment of being the only kid without.

I am teaching him responsibility by having him make a contribution to the cost of the calculator - which will motivate him to be careful not to misplace or damage it.

Instead, get the TI 83+ as an alternative, they won't knock you down for having it, it's cheaper, and it does the exact same stuff (but slower).

He won't be needing the speed (extra RAM that the 84 has) anyways, so may as well save yourself some dough.

[TenzoR]

was a $20 Ti92 a worthwhile purchase?

If it's just sitting there and collecting dust than it's a worthless purchase. If you actually do need it, it's a friggin bargain.

I've only used graphing calculator for one class in University that was because the matricies we had to do was quite big. WIth the graphic calculator it was a joke, since I programmed all the functions I need for that course.

[Electricute]

i disagree, my TI has gotten me through high school and most of uni.
my buddies and I actually spent the time making a program, that made it look exactly like when you go to clear your memory (required before exams), without actually deleting stuff.

[Sylvestre]

Unfortunately, they made the calculator mandatory. As a result of this, he can't be the only kid in the class without the calculator. I agree that having the calculator is taking the easy way out. However, I will not subject my kid to the embarassment of being the only kid without.

I am teaching him responsibility by having him make a contribution to the cost of the calculator - which will motivate him to be careful not to misplace or damage it.

You sound like a really involved parent, and that's absolutely great to hear. I would press the school further on this. Give them a call, ask to speak to whowever makes these decisions and force them to give you a valid answer on how much your kid will use the calc., why it's necessary, and why another calc won't be adequate.
Express your concern to the school about having 14yr olds needing a calculator that costs over $100.

[antime1]

i believe there is a calculator exam in the grade 9 curriculum (i had to take it when i was there) and it was worth 1/3 of the culminating marks meaning 10% of the final mark. however the exam is easy enough (i found it easier actually since i didnt have to go thru the process of pressing those buttons over and over again) to do without the calculator.

the calculator may be useful for some, but i would suggest having your son do his work without the use of a calculator, knowing how to do it without will greatly improve his math, and will better prepare him for further grades. have him knowledgeable of the calculator process but make sure he can everything without.

[lobt]

I'm in grade 12 in the TDSB now. I've never heard of calculator exams, nor the board requiring students to have specific graphing calculators. In fact, where I go to (Bethune), having graphing calculators during exams or tests constitutes cheating. I'm assuming this policy varies between schools?

Perhaps this new curriculum requires this and I don't know about it. It's believable because after my year, they're totally doing away with calculus in grade 12. I heard they were going to integrate a brief introduction of it with geometry and discrete. Thats ridiculous.

[nkwu]

nice one electricute, but realy the calculators arenot necessary. My school has teir kits and they are shared but I picked one up anywyas on the recommendaiton of a teacher in grade 10. His recommendation was useless.

However, if your schol has the kits, the teachers should still try and incoroprate the technology. Our school tried, but the put a lack lustre effort in, and when people were allowed to use them on tests(some in whichthe calculator made thek job alot easier) , the students crumbled. It wold have been good to teacht he students how to use technology, but a mandatory TI is excessive IMO.

[jason9945]

My old highschool had kits of graphing calculators. 30 in a kit, the graphing calculator stuff is all over the new math textbooks, even grade 9 applied. We seemed to use them about once a week.

I'm amazed they are making you BUY a calculator. If they tried that at my school people would have been OUTRAGED. I know I would have :lol:

Is your kid going to a public school OP?

[tkyoshi]

My old highschool had kits of graphing calculators. 30 in a kit, the graphing calculator stuff is all over the new math textbooks, even grade 9 applied. We seemed to use them about once a week.

I'm amazed they are making you BUY a calculator. If they tried that at my school people would have been OUTRAGED. I know I would have :lol:

Is your kid going to a public school OP?

Well at my school they made it mandatory for you to buy one for Grade 11/12. However if you were financially challanged, you could work something out with them and they'd loan you one. But for normal people, had to buy your own.

[Truemana]

I would have to agree that that calculator is extremely handy for anything slightly complex. I just finished my second year of electrical engineering... and the thing is now 4 years old, hasn't yet missed a beat. They required it for grade 11/12 math at my high school. Since then I've used it for all my physics and electrical courses.

If your kid is way ahead of his time and knows what he wants to do with his life, get the Ti-83/Ti-84. It makes things really easy to use and work with but it DEFINATELY is not required for anything past what they demonstrate in high school. But since he's in grade 9 he probably thinks he wants to be a doctor or something and never even considers engineering or even what he wants to do next weekend. In all my undergraduate math courses the ti-83 is banned. We use the sharp EL-510R, $10 and does a lot of useful stuff, but very cumbersome. Hope that helps.

Aaron

[jason9945]

Well at my school they made it mandatory for you to buy one for Grade 11/12. However if you were financially challanged, you could work something out with them and they'd loan you one. But for normal people, had to buy your own.
My school had enough for everyone to use, and it was in a rich neighbourhood.

The best part, you NEVER had calculator work for homework.


I LOVE my Casio fx991 calculator, two line display plus it can solve for a variable in an equation. I Love it!!! Only cost $20 too, this whole thing about math teachers being brainwashed into Ti Calc's is ********! (Non-Graphing calculators)

[chriswalsh]

...I LOVE my Casio fx991 calculator...

Amen to that! That is the best (non-graphing) calculator I've ever used. Certain courses we need to use a TI-30XII POS but given the choice, ya cant beat the casio!

edit - fixed model number of TI calculator

[Stabilo7]

wow... school has changed... and i just graduated...
you dont need a graphing calc till you are in like grade 11...
honestly... grade 9?

we only needed the ti-83.
for school, you dont need anything better than the 83+
the 84 is just a tad faster and bigger and stuff.... no real benifit...
see how your kid does with your old one or something. if he can manage, great.
Make sure he gets a good scientific calculator as well cuz you dont always get to use your graphing calcs.
i recommend the TI-30XII

[Eyies]

My high school had graphing calculators which they lended out. But anyways, using a graphing calculator with that kind of power for Gr.9 math is quite ridiculous. I'm entering 2nd year engineering, and I don't think I can even begin to maximize usage of a lot of the functions which are available.

I understand that if it's "required" of course you would not let your child not have one. However, also know that the type of usage they'll be doing is most likely supplementive in nature and could probably be done with a partner or whatnot.

Cheating is a great issue with programmable calculators. I have many friends who have done it religiously throughout grades 11/12. Sure teachers can 'check' for any stored data, but there are ways around it.

i.e. Store 200 games on your graphing calculator. Put your data into a file named Tetris or the likes. Also password locks and etc can be put on.

(And $20 for that calculator was a steal, I would take that without any hesitation probably as long as the price is two digits!)

[icebird144]

I remembered using graphing calcuators in gr.9 (I'm going to 4th yr UW Act. Sci), but the school lent them to us. It was fun colouring the screen one pixel at a time.

But seriously, I only used it because the text book told me to. I could do the math (even in gr11/12) without a graphing calculator. Now I'm in University, all I ever use is a TI 30Xa (one line display, the most basic scientific calculator you can possibly find) ($7.96 in Walmart everyday!).

As a math student, I don't like how the high school curriculum is designed - too heavily focused on calculator works. And now I heard they are taking out calculus in high school - worst decision ever. Yes, kids will graduate from high school, but good luck in learning derivatives in 2 days during 1st yr calculus in University.

Going back to the question the OP has. I haven't used TI92 so I have no comment on that. But if that one is banned, I would suggest saving some money and go for the TI83/TI83+. Cheaper, and do the same work.

[fl4wless]

ive got a used ti-86 i dont sue anymore, has been sitting in my drawer for like 4 years. Works great..

If anyone is interested, will let it go for cheap.. 25+shipping.

[deeplove]

the ti-83+ is pretty cheap these days, especially used and these things last a long time if you know what you're doing.
It was provided to us in gr.9 and rarely used it then. I got mine in gr.11
I wouldn't haven't survived without hehe. its THAT useful, and im good at math :)

TI-84 is probably better because by teh time he/she is in gr. 12, it might be the common model used then/ in the textbooks. but in gr.12 you don't use it that much, you should be able to do everything without it. It's used to "check" your answers, I didn't get marks if i just said "based on the calculator". err.. noo.. (good try)

depending on what he majors in, in University i don't think he'll need it. I sold mine last year (didn't even use it in first year, which is last year). Im in commerce btw. Required to take calculus and no more math courses in my future..

[anitanium]

My high school had graphing calculators which they lended out. But anyways, using a graphing calculator with that kind of power for Gr.9 math is quite ridiculous. I'm entering 2nd year engineering, and I don't think I can even begin to maximize usage of a lot of the functions which are available.
Cheating is a great issue with programmable calculators. I have many friends who have done it religiously throughout grades 11/12. Sure teachers can 'check' for any stored data, but there are ways around it.

i.e. Store 200 games on your graphing calculator. Put your data into a file named Tetris or the likes. Also password locks and etc can be put on.


in BC, before provincial exams, all the teachers come around and physically wipe the TI's clean (they actually know how to erase all data) so there isn't any in the ram.

fortunately for me, i archived everything on my TI-83+ (SILVER EDITION!!!) and unarchived when the exam started.
w00t.

but that was a long time ago

i don't see the point in a grade 10 student requiring a graphing calculator.
pointless really...

[thestagnant]

That is ridiculous. Why don't they make students do the math instead of getting a calculator to do it for them? High school students should learn how to plot graphs themselves. I used a pretty basic calculator until a 4th year Robotics course in university, and even then it was only a TI-83.