I will be entering high school next year, and I would like to ask for your opinion on some graphing calculators. I currently use a TI-83 plus but am looking to upgrade.
I am looking to buy one of these a TI-84 plus silver edition or a TI-Nspire CX. Both are in my price range but I wanted to ask about your opinions on these two or others you used/use.

Thanks for your time.

Is his necessary on the forum

I use a 84 Plus, and there's a class set of Silvers that our class gets occasionally. (One set for 9 teachers) I haven't noticed a difference, I'm sure there is one, though.

Is the Nspire the one with color? Pointless, IMO.

If you can get them to let you look at the manual for all of them, then you should look for one that, among other things, lets you:

Deal with imaginary numbers. Mine can't do that, to my knowledge, and it's kind of annoying. Not essential by any means, though.

Try for one that can solve equations with multiple variables, possibly multiple equations at the same time. This is much more important, still not exactly necessary, though. I still haven't read my instruction book - it's huge, dedicate some serious time to the books; at least 10 minutes per book in the store, if the let you read them, and at least an hour at home, or until you figure out everything, and have memorized anything that seems like it'll be used.

Battery life. Extremely annoying to have your battery die during a midterm. Get a solar powered one if you can, carry an extra set of batteries if you can't. Solar's better anyway, better for the environment.

The one with the SIMPLE interface. Don't get one that makes you press six buttons to square a number. You don't want to loan it to a classmate and have to teach them how to use it.

You'll want a button exclusively to make a fraction. On my TI 30II (I think that was what it was called...), there was a *2nd* function that looked like "a/b" or A a/b", or something like that. My 84+ makes me go into parentheses to simulate a fraction. It doesn't seem like a huge deal, but it starts to screw with your eyes when you're doing huge equations.

My advice: Don't buy a new graphing calculator. A TI 83 is just fine. If I had have had one in middle school, I'd still be using it this year. For simpler stuff, you might want a 30IIS (Solar powered TI scientific calculator), because of the MUCH simpler interface. Also a nice backup for when your battery does die, which it will, and so will the spares.

NOTE: DO NOT buy the TI89, or anything else above 84+. I'm not sure about the Nspire, but once you pass the 84, you may actually have to press multiple buttons just to turn the damn thing on.

They dont have solar graphing calcs calvin.


Ti-84 is more than good enough sput. Thats the one i hVe and they have in school.and u dont even need to buy it if u dont want to, ti83 is good enough

Sput ill be in high school in 2 years!!!! I'm not sure what calculator u should get I do math counts so some kids have them. They all work the same in my opinion.

Digby wrote: Is his necessary on the forum

If you meant "is THIS necessary on the forum" than yes because this forum contains many students that I am sure can help me with this problem.
Thank you bomer and Calvin.

We don't use calculators at our high school were still in algebra 2.what math are you doing?

I'm in algebra 1 in 7th grade then we do geometry then algebra 2

I still remember loading mine up with TONS of games and little "test aiding" programs, heheh.

Check out this website and install a few for yourself. They have TI-83, 84 and other devices.

www.ticalc.org/pub/83plus/basic/math/

The games are actually pretty fun. Back in the day I had a pretty solid emulation of Pokemon Red on my calculator along with the game Harvest Moon. Just don't get too distracted in class, hahahah!

My friend plays packman during class or Tetris. He's addicted

if you can afford it get the TI-inspire. they have face plates you can buy so you never have to buy a new one again

Slenderman wrote: I still remember loading mine up with TONS of games and little "test aiding" programs, heheh.

Check out this website and install a few for yourself. They have TI-83, 84 and other devices.

www.ticalc.org/pub/83plus/basic/math/

The games are actually pretty fun. Back in the day I had a pretty solid emulation of Pokemon Red on my calculator along with the game Harvest Moon. Just don't get too distracted in class, hahahah!

Is that the right link? I just went to look for the games you mentioned, and I couldn't find anything but calculator-related (Calculatory?) stuff.

:EDIT: Any reason that the calc's driver software won't install on the computer?