Algebra 2 Calculator????

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Our school district doesn't publish school supplies lists at the high school before school starts. Each teacher tells the class what they need during the first few days of school. Most of the supplies are a given: notebooks, paper, pencils, etc. so I can catch the sales on the generic stuff. However, I have a coupon good for 20% of one item at Staples and I am wondering if Algebra 2 needs a scientific calculator or other such thing that I can use the coupon for. I recall having to buy one for Calculus back in the Dark Ages, but can't remember if I needed one for Algebra 2...(wish I hadn't killed so many brain cells back in the day...)

Does anyone have recent experience (i.e., through a child or a class) with Algebra 2? Do the kids need special calculators?

TIA!!!

[saveinla]

Aug 18, 2012 15:48:04 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Our school district doesn't publish school supplies lists at the high school before school starts. Each teacher tells the class what they need during the first few days of school. Most of the supplies are a given: notebooks, paper, pencils, etc. so I can catch the sales on the generic stuff. However, I have a coupon good for 20% of one item at Staples and I am wondering if Algebra 2 needs a scientific calculator or other such thing that I can use the coupon for. I recall having to buy one for Calculus back in the Dark Ages, but can't remember if I needed one for Algebra 2...(wish I hadn't killed so many brain cells back in the day...)

Does anyone have recent experience (i.e., through a child or a class) with Algebra 2? Do the kids need special calculators?

TIA!!!

Our school considered it optional for Algebra-2, but mandatory for AP Calculus. If they needed it for Algebra 2 they could borrow from the teacher who had a few extra. I just bought a TI-84 Plus graphing calculator for this year for Calculus.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Aug 18, 2012 15:52:10 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Aug 18, 2012 15:48:04 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Our school district doesn't publish school supplies lists at the high school before school starts. Each teacher tells the class what they need during the first few days of school. Most of the supplies are a given: notebooks, paper, pencils, etc. so I can catch the sales on the generic stuff. However, I have a coupon good for 20% of one item at Staples and I am wondering if Algebra 2 needs a scientific calculator or other such thing that I can use the coupon for. I recall having to buy one for Calculus back in the Dark Ages, but can't remember if I needed one for Algebra 2...(wish I hadn't killed so many brain cells back in the day...)

Does anyone have recent experience (i.e., through a child or a class) with Algebra 2? Do the kids need special calculators?

TIA!!!

Our school considered it optional for Algebra-2, but mandatory for AP Calculus. If they needed it for Algebra 2 they could borrow from the teacher who had a few extra. I just bought a TI-84 Plus graphing calculator for this year for Calculus.

Thanks, Save!!! IIRC, I too bought a TI calculator many, many years ago. I think they're about $125 now, so 20% off would be sweet deal.

<----off to Staples...

[justme]

I had a TI83 for Algebra 2, I used it until it died when I was in college. That was about 10 years ago.

[Deleted]

mine all needed the TI-84 for algebra 1.

[tcu2003]

Go for the TI-89 (or whatever the equivalent is if there is a better one these days). I had the TI-85 for Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calc & AP Calc in high school, and for my engineering/math classes in college. The TI-89 would have been AWESOME to have for calc and college, but my TI-85 worked fine (and still does as I use it at work), so I didn't want to pay just to upgrade.

[Deleted]

My kids were required to have a graphing calculator in high school, but I don't remember which math class it was for.

[Deleted]

I would be they need a (non-specified) calculator for Algebra 2, but they may need a very specific one for Calc. If they are likely to take Calc, I'd try to find out what calculator is used in that class before you commit.

Our high school calc class required the TI-82. Although the TI-85 was out then, the teacher didn't know how to use it, so the kids with the fancier calculator were at a disadvantage.

[Apple]

If you buy one, I'd make sure you can return it if you need to.

When I had calculus in high school the newest was TI-81 or 82, when I went to college we had TI-86 and TI-89s. Sometimes they will require a specific calculator because the scientific ones take a little while to learn and often a teacher wants to be able to tell the whole class "push this button, then this button". If just one kid has a different calculator (even a TI-different number) it can really slow the class down. It also makes it harder to ask for help from a classmate when doing homework or studying.

I still have my TI-86, love it! TI-89s made calculus 10 times easier than any earlier edition though.

<edited to correct wrong word. mmm... apple wine and ginger ale...>

[flopsy]

Unless you are in a scenario where you can only use a scientific calculator (like test environments) I would do with a graphing calc. I think I got one in Jr high and used it in Jr high/high school. Oddly enough I don't remember using it much for all the college level maths I took, some didn't use much in the way of numbers so maybe that's why.

[Loopdilou]

I hate that they teach you how to use a calculator instead of how to do math.

[Sammy]

What happened to the good ole slide rule? I used the disk shape rather than the ruler style.. how about you?? ;D

[alabamagal]

It is highly dependent on the teacher. My kids made it through pre-calc (which may be Algebra 2) without a graphing calculator. Just the $10 scientific calculator (has to have sine, cosine, etc.). My oldest then just used it for Calculus without one, even though they were supposed to have one, then passed the AP test and had no more math in college (for biology degree).

My older son had one, but when he got to Calculus 2 in college, the teacher did not allow them to use the graphing calculators! He had to go out and buy the $10 scientific calculator. The caclutor got lost.

Second son has a graphing calculator from high school and will be taking Calc in college.

Do not buy anything until it is absolutely needed! Especially if you have a kid who tends to lose things.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

I got a TI84. I have the receipt and can return it if it is unnecessary or the wrong calculator. 20% off was just too hard to pass up on a $120 item.

<<<----wishes the teachers published their supply list over the summer so we could take better advantage of sales and coupons.


ETA: (only 1 cup of coffee so far, so sorry) THANK YOU for all of your replies, advice, and suggestions!

[Phoenix84]

I used a TI-89 Titanium all throughout college (four years of physics and three years of math, including three semesters of calculus).

But depending on how far the person in question is going (I'm not sure if it's for you or your kids) it would be wise to use the coupon for a calculator that will carry you through your intended destination. If you're going to do calculus, I'd reccomend at least a TI-84. If you're going to do even more advanced things, like advanced calculus, diff eq, and physics and engineering, I'd reccomend a TI-89.

If algebra II is it, a scientific is probably fine.

[hamsterwheel]

If you're looking to invest in terms of long-term calculators, the ti-85 is awesome. I've had mine since 93. You will need to double-check what kind of calculators are allowed within your school and program since I've had courses that will not allow such calculators. I personally think such calculators are fine to double-check work, not substitute for work. I know they have calculators beyond the ti-85 like for engineering, but it's been more than functional for anything I've needed. For algebra II, this kind of calculator is not needed, but if your kid is planning to go into trig or higher in math, it can be very helpful. Again, it's meant to double-check work. Not substitute.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

ODS will likely make it to Pre-Calculus and MAYBE Calculus 1 (but just at the college prep level, not Honors). He has a strong aptitude for Math, but dyslexia and a hearing issue have their way of impacting even subjects not traditionally thought of as reading-based, such as Math. He works hard and is motivated, but college prep level is enough of a challenge for him.

[973beachbum]

Aug 18, 2012 23:02:17 GMT -5 Loopdilou said:

I hate that they teach you how to use a calculator instead of how to do math.

They really do teach the math and the calculater is just so they can do more in the time allowed. At least here anyway.

The SAT's are written so that a student, who is brilliant ;D, can finish most of the math portion using a TI-84 plus. While you can do the math with a scientific calc like a TI-30xs type of thing but they will be at a LARGE disadvantage because of how much longer it would take them to finish the tests.

The SAT type tests also don't allow the TI89 type calculators to be used at all. I think the best they can use to take it is the TI-84 plus. IMO it would be best for him to use the same calculator during the school year that he takes the test with instead of using a fancy TI-92 during the year and then having to figure out the TI-84 for the SATs.

Best price for the TI-84 plus SE is at Walmart for $99.97. Staples will price match so if you print out the online page with it and take it in Staples will match it and let you use your 20% off coupon plus get the easyrebate for it as well. HTH!

Can you tell my DD had Alg II last year? ;D

[CarolinaKat]

I liked TI-86 better than the TI-89 myself although the 89 has more powerful solving/graphing capabilities. When I got to engineering school they actually let us use laptops with equation solvers (and wifi jammers in the room) instead of little piddly calculators


ETA: Some classes all math was by hand

[973beachbum]

Aug 21, 2012 8:03:19 GMT -5 CarolinaKat said:

I liked TI-86 better than the TI-89 myself although the 89 has more powerful solving/graphing capabilities. When I got to engineering school they actually let us use laptops with equation solvers (and wifi jammers in the room) instead of little piddly calculators


ETA: Some classes all math was by hand

Did you take the EIT/PE recently? Now they only allow the TI-30xs or the casio equivalent types to be used.

[CarolinaKat]

Yes, I have the the TI-30 as well... I'm not eligible to sit for the PE until this spring What the PE allows and what the Engineering school encourages are vastly different

ETA: I'll probably do it in the fall because of the wedding though

[973beachbum]

Aug 21, 2012 8:08:16 GMT -5 CarolinaKat said:

Yes, I have the the TI-30 as well... I'm not eligible to sit for the PE until this spring What the PE allows and what the Engineering school encourages are vastly different

ETA: I'll probably do it in the fall because of the wedding though

Fair warning DH said that the books NEECES study guides are MUCH easier than the actual test.

He had to take it twice. He is a civil/enviornmental engineer in NJ. The second time he bought a bunch of the study guides and used their afternoon parts for studing for the morning breadth part. He found out the first time that the study guides morning work part is way easier than the actual test.

He also said the chairs are horrible! At our age 8 hours on a metal folding chair is cruel and unusual punishment!

[Deleted]

Aug 21, 2012 7:49:39 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

Aug 18, 2012 23:02:17 GMT -5 Loopdilou said:

I hate that they teach you how to use a calculator instead of how to do math.

They really do teach the math and the calculater is just so they can do more in the time allowed. At least here anyway.

The SAT's are written so that a student, who is brilliant ;D, can finish most of the math portion using a TI-84 plus. While you can do the math with a scientific calc like a TI-30xs type of thing but they will be at a LARGE disadvantage because of how much longer it would take them to finish the tests.

The SAT type tests also don't allow the TI89 type calculators to be used at all. I think the best they can use to take it is the TI-84 plus. IMO it would be best for him to use the same calculator during the school year that he takes the test with instead of using a fancy TI-92 during the year and then having to figure out the TI-84 for the SATs.

Best price for the TI-84 plus SE is at Walmart for $99.97. Staples will price match so if you print out the online page with it and take it in Staples will match it and let you use your 20% off coupon plus get the easyrebate for it as well. HTH!

Can you tell my DD had Alg II last year? ;D

just bought the TI-84 plus at Target yesterday for $90