KP2
Senior Member
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- New Milford, CT
I need to buy a calculator for an engineering course. I was thinking about getting a TI 84 but I see some newer models. What do some of you guys recommend?
Ancient history, I know, but my trusty HP 41CV with math card is what got me through engineering school back in the 80's. An RPN notation calculator was critical to AC circuit and signal courses because it could go back and forth between polar and rectangular coordinate notation internally (polar is necessary for multiplication and division of complex numbers, where rectangular is needed for addition and subtraction). Using a non-RPN calculator meant that in order to switch coordinate systems, you had to go outside the calculator, write things down, perform a coordinate conversion, and re-enter the numbers. It may be that "standard" notation calculator makers have found a way around this, but to this day I prefer RPN even for simple stuff. What is that "=" key for? :grin:100413-0655 EST
An RPN calculator. That is Reverse Polish Notation.
Generally this has meant HP. Before HP left the business I bought four 32SII to have some around for the future. This is a convenient small simple calculator useful for many applications. Normally I use a 48G or 12C.
I need to buy a calculator for an engineering course. I was thinking about getting a TI 84 but I see some newer models. What do some of you guys recommend?
I don't know about that. A calculator will have dedicated and labeled keys that do certain things, where with a laptop running math software you'll have to use alphanumeric and function keys and remember what does what. Also, a calculator doesn't take up much desk space, and in an exam you'll have other things in front of you that you'll have to be dealing with. That's not to mention that with a calculator everything is there under one hand, and in an engineering exam setting you have to be FAST to survive. And I've never had to reboot my calculator.If there is no prohibition for notebook laptop in course , my suggestion to you is to buy one notebook laptop and you can install any kind of math software you need.
Sorry to quote myself, but the edit function has gone away for some reason...I don't know about that. A calculator will have dedicated and labeled keys that do certain things, where with a laptop running math software you'll have to use alphanumeric and function keys and remember what does what. Also, a calculator doesn't take up much desk space, and in an exam you'll have other things in front of you that you'll have to be dealing with. That's not to mention that with a calculator everything is there under one hand, and in an engineering exam setting you have to be FAST to survive. And I've never had to reboot my calculator.
Call me Old School (because I am), but I'd much prefer a hotrod calculator over a laptop for classroom use.
An HP using RPN. It got me through many courses, and I also have troubles with that weird "=" key. Once you get used to it, it'll be much faster than the other kind.
(FWIW, I still know where my sliderule is... I also have a book around here they tells how to divide on an abacus. Never tried that, although I do have one.)
I am a fan of the TI-89. But I bought it 5 years ago so they probably have newer and better. It is so much faster to just use a computer so it collects dust now.
Because not all of us are Luddites?100413-1211 EST
Why should calculators be allowed for in the normal classroom test? I suggest that for most purposes slide rules and pencil and paper should be adequate.
I take his point. The modern computing world is turning students into lightning fast number crunchers, but the fundamental underlying principles have not changed. Crunching more numbers does not necessarily yield a better understanding of the fundamentals; indeed, it may even serve to obscure them.Because not all of us are Luddites?
Sorry to quote myself, but the edit function has gone away for some reason...
Anyway, I have been out of school for quite some time, but I would be surprised to hear that laptops are allowed in college exam situations. It seems to me that the potential for cheating would be too great, especially with the pervasiveness of wireless networking. Need an answer? Call (email) a friend.
I would suggest otherwise. I would not advise a student to do all his homework with math software on computer and switch to a calculator for exams. That is, in my opinion, a recipe for disaster.He was insisting on advance and modern kind of calculator. Ofcourse, in exam laptop is not allowed. But for daily in class and home, it is better to have note-book laptop.
I am not insisting on this, it is only my suggestion.
I would suggest otherwise. I would not advise a student to do all his homework with math software on computer and switch to a calculator for exams. That is, in my opinion, a recipe for disaster.