Tess in the Burbs Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 Ds is doing pre-algebra. Today the exponent lesson had a whole video section on order of operations on a graphing calculator. Um, we don't have one. Do we need one for pre-alg/algebra? I don't remember buying one until farther into high school math way back when lol. what's the standard one everyone gets now? There are so many choices and I have no idea what we will need now and in the future. help!?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 Honestly I don't think it's necessary in pre-algebra and would feel completely comfortable skipping those sections. That being said, a TI-83 or 84 is a pretty safe bet. Many colleges don't allow the higher TI's such as 89-92 because of their capability for doing algebra. If you do decide to get him one, I would ONLY use it on the sections where it says 'use the graphing calculator' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 Didn't need a graphing calculator even for calculus. Only needed a scientific calculator and graph paper. However if you are to buy one for familiarization purpose. go for the TI-84 as that is the most commonly used calculator in the high schools here. TI-83 is the older model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess in the Burbs Posted September 24, 2013 Author Share Posted September 24, 2013 ok thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 You don't need one. We only got one for DS because he will be taking the NY Algebra regents exam and is expected to have one for the exam. We figured he should get used to using his calculator before the actual exam. If he didn't have his own, the school does provide one, but I am not sure how that works with a homeschool kid. It going to be tricky enough for me just dealing with the school so he can take the test. FWIW, if you do decide to get one, we got ours refurbished off Amazon for 40$. It arrived very quickly and looks brand new. It even came with new batteries in the package. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 You should not need a graphing calculator until AP calculus (and there only because the test is specifically designed to include problems that can only be solved by graphing calculator). In fact, you should not need any calculator at all until high school science and standardized testing (and none for high school math if the program is well designed) There was recently a discussion about calculators: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/488889-ps-tells-us-we-have-to-buy-a-100-calculator-for-honors-algebra/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie of KY Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 I agree that you should not need a calculator for high school math. You do need one for high school science for the ease of working with real numbers that don't always fit into an equation nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess in the Burbs Posted September 24, 2013 Author Share Posted September 24, 2013 Ok we will skip those lessons. It literally showed the problems being worked on the calculator for today's lesson so DS was thinking he needed it. It was the ti-83 in the video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 That is the same one we got for my son. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 http://www.meta-calculator.com/online/ Someone here recommended this if he wants to try the problems without the expense. We haven't used it but I had it bookmarked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandy in TN Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 At some point in Alg2 my boys were introduced to a graphing calculator. They didn't use it much, but I am glad they were comfortable holding one prior to college classes where they were expected to already know how to use it. HTH- Mandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 I'm no expert, but surely there are apps for that by now. Right? Unless it was for an exam, I can't imagine buying one of those old TI ones like we had in school... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 I'm no expert, but surely there are apps for that by now. Right? Unless it was for an exam, I can't imagine buying one of those old TI ones like we had in school... My son's itouch comes with a calculator. If you turn it on its side it expands and (I think) becomes graphing. It seems to do something special when it is in landscape view anyway. So, yes you are correct. However, students are not permitted to bring an itouch or iphone into an exam with them. Some graphing calculators have some internet and memory capability and they are not permitted into exams either. Plus, many schools do not permit students to have itouches, phones etc in the classroom. If the calculator is to be used in an exam or in a school then the student should be familiar with all the buttons and functions well before the exam. That is why some students start using their fancy pants calculator early, so it is something they are familiar with when they take their exam. And lots of people don't use them at all. Like I said, I wouldn't have got one at all, except I know my son will be expected to have one for an exam he is taking in June. Now, I have zero idea if he will need to actually use it, but he is allowed to have it, and the school is supposed to provide one if he doesn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I'm no expert, but surely there are apps for that by now. Right? Unless it was for an exam, I can't imagine buying one of those old TI ones like we had in school... I don't allow my students to use calculator apps in class. They can't stop themselves from texting. I sure wouldn't pay full price for a TI for a student at this level. I got my TI-81 (yeah it's old, but I know where all the buttons are and it does everything I want it to) for five bucks on ebay. I think one year is enough to practice with a fancypants calculator, so I would get one the year before either taking an exam which uses one, or going to public school/university. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 My Dh stumbled across TI calculators (83 or 84, I don't recall which) marked down drastically at Kmart a couple of years ago. They must have been considered a back-to-school item, and he found them doing early Christmas shopping. He grabbed two, for my stepson and niece, for under $25 apiece. He found them while wandering through the electronics department, so it was a lucky accident. I would definitely check around before paying full price for one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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