What's the best calculator?

Question

I'm a high school senior and am going to college for either physics or engineering (possibly both). My local Staples supply store has a big sale on Texas Instruments calculators. I know the TI-89 Titanium is the best, but could I get by with a TI-84, TI-84 Plus, of TI-83 Plus, or should I go for the TI-89?

Answer 1

The major advantage of the TI-89 over lower-model TI calculators is its built-in computer algebra system, or CAS. The calculator can evaluate and simplify algebraic expressions symbolically.

For example, entering (x^3-x^2-8x+12)/(x+3) returns x^2 − 4x + 4. The answer is pretty printed by default; that is, it is displayed as it would be written on paper, as opposed to x^2-4x+4 returned by calculators which are incapable of displaying superscripts or subscripts. The TI-89's abilities include:

Algebraic factoring of expressions, including partial fraction decomposition.

Algebraic simplification; for example, the CAS can combine multiple terms into one fraction by finding a common denominator.



Evaluation of trigonometric expressions to exact values. For example, sin(60°) returns the square root of 3 over 2 instead of 0.86602 like the pervious models.

Solving equations for a certain variable. The CAS can solve for one variable in terms of others; it can also solve systems of equations. For equations such as quadratics where there are multiple solutions, it returns all of them. Equations with infinitely many solutions are solved by introducing arbitrary constants: solve(tan(x+2)=0,x) returns x=@n1π-2, with the @n1 representing any integer.

Finding limits of functions, including infinite limits and limits from one direction.

Symbolic differentiation and integration. Derivatives and definite integrals are evaluated exactly when possible, and approximately otherwise.

Answer 2

Usually people get an 83 or 84 and are generally happy with it. If you can afford an 89 and can handle it's slightly different design, then go for it, but folks use the 83/84 mostly, even if they ARE upper level math/physics majors.

Answer 3

TI-84 plus Silver Edition will work just fine. I rarely used all the functions available on the TI-84 plus in Physics or Engineering courses. Good luck to you!!