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Back in 1998, when I had to buy one, I was given a choice. I could get any of the TI, Casio, or HP options. Most of my classmates got the TI-83, but I chose the

Back in 1998, when I had to buy one, I was given a choice. I could get any of the TI, Casio, or HP options. Most of my classmates got the TI-83, but I chose the TI-89. Mine was much faster and had more memory. I could create better applications. Unfortunately, the teacher taught to the TI-83. Instructions for homework showed what menu options were needed to find the formulas required. It was obvious that if you didn't have the calculator that everyone else has, you might as well not even bring the book to class. You spent more time trying to find the equivalent settings and processes to do the work than actually getting anything done. A competitor would have to include the exact same formulas in the exact same menu locations.

JoeAltmaier 12y ago
Isn't that the problem with calculators? The lesson becomes "How to work the calculator" instead of math. I got an HP programmable calculator. It operated on RPN. That makes you think about problems differently, IMHO in a better way. I remember a 'calculator Olympics' involving solving an incredible half-page calculation involving scores of parentheses and transcendental functions. Everybody else launched into typing all that into their TI calculator. I started from the innermost expression (as ALL RPN-trained people do). It was an identity. Hm. As I worked my way out, everything was an identity (sin(90) etc). I got the answer without ever touching a button on my calculator. THAT's what math class should be teaching.