tonersl Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 I am looking ahead and need to purchase a scientific calculator for my son to use with Horizon's Pre-Algebra program. Does anyone have any recommendations of good calculators and which (if any) calculators to avoid? I don't want to spend a fortune but also want this calculator to get him through the next several years of math and even possibly be passed down to siblings. Do such calculators exist on a budget? Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornelia9805 Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Scientific calculators are very reasonable (under $20). I don't have any specific recommendations, but I would think just about any one of them would work. I think you might be thinking of a graphing calculator. They are closer to $100, but are needed around Algebra 2. I'm curious what he is doing in Pre-algebra where he would need a scientific calculator. My ODD just finished Pre-algebra through Chalkdust and I can't think of a time she needed a calculator. I know different programs have a different scope and sequence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Scientific calculators are cheap. You're probably thinking of a graphing calculator. There's no reason to get a graphing calculator before Geometry at the earliest. I know there is at least one geometry program that was written with graphing calculators in mind. Very few programs are designed for graphing calculators before at least Algebra II. My favorite scientific calculator is the Casio FX-300ES. http://www.amazon.com/Casio-FX-300ES-Solar-Scientific-Calculator/dp/B0009OTG6G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343677380&sr=8-1&keywords=casio+fx-300es Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColoNative Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 We use a TI-83, which you can find on E-Bay for reasonable. It is a graphing calculator, but we use it already with our math program, and it will last through Calculus! I also used it in Chemistry... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonersl Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Thank you all for your responses. Yes, I guess I was thinking of a graphing calculator but only need the scientific one. If I had done some research, I would have figured that out eventually. I am glad to know that this will be a rather inexpensive purchase. In looking at the Horizon's Pre-Algebra teacher's book more closely, the calculator is mainly used for exponents and calculating compounding interest. I can find maybe a 1/2 dozen times where it is actually used. Not a big deal overall. Sometimes I put the cart before the horse and get myself all worked up over something so simple. Thank you again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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