What calculator for calc bc and multivar?
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Anonymous
| Calculators are useful for a number of things. You can define a function, evaluate it at a point, get the derivative and integral within some limits. It’s not make or break, but it’s helpful for a number of things. Desmos can do these things, but you don’t know what calculator features are on the exam, and it’s better to use something you’re familiar with. I’d buy the ones with more features for $50 more. |
Anonymous
No, you’re not an AP Calc teacher. This is so typical DCUM, to exaggerate credential to have more credibility, so annoying! Every AP math class has a graphing calculator usage activity. TI-84 is standard, and you can follow your teacher, or get whatever you’re want, but you’ll have to get familiar with how to do things on your own. Contrary to what random clueless people are saying, Desmos is not good enough. Look up resources on YouTube, turkvids is one of them. It’s helpful to know your way around a calculator, especially for time constraint exams like the APs. |
Anonymous
So please enlighten us as to why it's not good enough. I don't mind dropping money on an educational item, but I need to know whether it's useful! What about the top of the line TI calculator is better than Desmos, when it comes to exam day? Specifically, I'm looking for two things: 1. Saving precious time during the exam. 2. Reducing steps, and therefore user error, for school work or exams. |
Anonymous
Ok fake AP Calc teacher, look this up and tell me when you can do this in Desmos without taking that much more time buttoning around. https://youtu.be/S0jcV33CLCw |
Anonymous
PP you replied to. I am not the poster who said they were a math teacher. You need to explain without being condescending to everyone and making stupid assumptions. |
Anonymous
| The one that they use in class. My son had a better one, but for BC calc he complained that he wanted the one he was more used to using in class - so I had to order him a used one off eBay. |
Anonymous
Okay. I really am an AP Calc teacher, despite what you want to believe. This is only my third year teaching it, but I’ve taught high school math for two decades. A TI 84+ color edition would be my recommendation if you are going to buy something brand new. The inspire will be overly complicated and in my experience really frustrates kids. If you want something that’s not TI I would do numworks. My students have a class set of old gray 84s from a million years ago, and use them when I don’t want to deal with laptops for simple calculations. I have no idea what they have at home. Desmos is integrated into AP classroom, is included in the blue book lockdown browser that teachers give tests in, and does everything needed for the AP exam. I went to another APSI this summer, and the presenters were strongly pushing Desmos. Our AP pre-Calc teachers taught with it last year, so kids are coming to AP calculus already knowing how to do everything foundational in it. I’m not going to start over teaching functionality that they already know how to do in a different system. But really, ask the teacher. It doesn’t matter what I say, or what online parents say. It matters how your kid’s teacher is teaching the class. If they aren’t doing exams through AP classroom you’ll absolutely need something else. |
Anonymous
See, this is a mature response. The other poster sounds like a crackpot and needs to calm down. If they have any real criticism of Desmos, then why don't they explain it here in terms everyone can understand. |
Anonymous
| if i were in charge, i'd prohibit use of programmable calculators in HS. they need to learn to "think" and solve problems, not how to punch in keys to find answers. US education system is so f'ked. |
Anonymous
My TI-89 can do analytical integration, but for Calc BC, you shouldn't be using it. It can make polar and parametric plots. |
Anonymous
There is no TI-84. TI-84 Plus is the base model, and it is sufficient for both courses. If buying new, get TI-84 Plus CE, which is cheaper, has better resolution, color, and rechargeable battery. For online tests in blue book, get used to the integrated Desmos tool. |
Anonymous
Are you still sick puppeting pretending you’re a teacher? Desmos is great for graphing but is nowhere close to the capability of computer algebra system calculators like TI-Nspire. Of course one can do things just fine in Desmos, but also take advantage to the max of allowed technology, especially if aiming for a 5. I’d take the expertise of AP teachers with a grain of salt. I’ve seen my share of incompetent teachers that heavily rely on rote memorization, or that are simply unfit for teaching an advanced class. If you’re confused by the menu in TINspire, then either look for a different job as a teacher or you have no business in that class as a student. OP question was on what calculator to buy for advanced classes like Multivariable and BC. Get the top of the line for a few extra bucks. Use it to get familiar, and spend a day learning useful tips and tricks. It really helps for the calculator allowed questions. |
Anonymous
| DC just graduated but used a TI-84+ through calc AB. When he took calc BC last year, he asked for the TInspire. He just took the Inspire to college with him. He said it’s amazing. |
Anonymous
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TI-84 is essentially a thirty year old technology $9 calculator, but due to TI monopoly, students everywhere are required to buy it and pay ten times, with the $100 price. A $0.99 app on any smart phone incorporates all that functionality and much more, without any ads.
But now, almost all standardized tests from college board, digital math courseware, and schools/colleges are gradually adopting Desmos, so TI, Casio, etc, days in student market are numbered. |
Anonymous
+1 a Casio fx-9750GIII is about $37 and the TI-84 is $80ish. And the Casio does more. |