Calculator question

[Admiral_Aeka]

ABACUS.

+1

seriously tho my lebanese great-great-aunt can use one of those almost as fast as a calculator. it's amazing how well they actually really work, no [poo]

[NiteRunner81]

Came in late on this one but I'll suggest it anyways so that you're inside a return policy. Does Matt have a smartphone (I'm only asking cause I know kids that age actually do have them)? My HTC Trophy (Windows 7 OS) has an app.... I'm one for finding multiple purposes in things.

[kjeopardy]

Came in late on this one but I'll suggest it anyways so that you're inside a return policy. Does Matt have a smartphone (I'm only asking cause I know kids that age actually do have them)? My HTC Trophy (Windows 7 OS) has an app.... I'm one for finding multiple purposes in things.

No way! A smart phone can be used as a graphing calculator???

[Outrider]

The problem with using a graphing calculator application on a smartphone is that the instructor might consider the other features of the phone as a distraction in class. Also, there are times when a graphing calculator is allowed to be used during exams, so using the smartphone opens up the possibility of cheating. :(

[Bryant]

I suggest the TI-30XS as a terrific scientific calculator.

That calculator is my favorite. I've never even owned a graphing calculator. The only times I've ever used one was when I was given one in AP calc and AP stats in high school.
Frankly, I see no need for a graphing calculator. You usually are not allowed to use them in tests, and you have a better understanding of the material if you have to use a non-graphing calculator. And I've just used a scientific calculator up to my 4th year in college now.

By the way, whenever I try to learn something and graphing will help, I generally use http://www.wolframalpha.com

[kjeopardy]

I suggest the TI-30XS as a terrific scientific calculator.

That calculator is my favorite. I've never even owned a graphing calculator. The only times I've ever used one was when I was given one in AP calc and AP stats in high school.
Frankly, I see no need for a graphing calculator. You usually are not allowed to use them in tests, and you have a better understanding of the material if you have to use a non-graphing calculator. And I've just used a scientific calculator up to my 4th year in college now.

By the way, whenever I try to learn something and graphing will help, I generally use http://www.wolframalpha.com

I know right: that calculator is awesome...it can do fractions, make tables for graphs (although not graph them), work in terms of pi, etc.

I've used wolfram alpha before too :P.

[Dad]

A calculator for algebra? Times sure have changed. I didn't use a calculator (much to the frustration of my teachers) until I was studying electrical theory. Also, we weren't allowed calculators in high school.

[NiteRunner81]

I'm with Dad on this one. I graduated only 12-13 years ago and we weren't allowed calculators either... eesh.. times have changed.

[Col. Hstar]

Same here. I graduated in 2000 and for our finals not only did we not get to use calculators but we had to turn in our scratch paper which showed us solving the the questions in long form.

Sad thing is, I've noticed a lot of the time kids are allowed to use calculators because it more important for the teachers to have passing students. My sister had a teacher last year who in September said they would not be using the math book at all. He was just going to teach the things in the tests they give in June, and their grades were based on practice tests they took each Friday
I get that it's not the teachers fault for the crappy way that California funds education, but that is no way to teach kids.

[NiteRunner81]

Fellow C/O 2000!! Awesome!!!

Yes, my algebra teacher, required the same thing, that we turned in our scratch paper, etc.

And now that my brothers are going to the same school its the same way as your sister..