\nYears ago I realized that knowing “how to do” a process in math is being eclipsed by “how to use” a calculator. First, I saw the TI graphing calculator back in 1990. Very few people had one; those did weren’t always allowed to use it on tests. However, they were allowed on some tests and on “for-marks” homework. Back then, that calculator cost around $300, I was told. It was more than I was paying per university course.<\/p>\n
One of my friends had one of those big TIs. At the time, I had a little “bare-bones” TI scientific (around $30). Sitting in the theatre seats of a 2nd semester calculus lecture, I challenged him to a race: who could (using our calculators) more quickly find the fifth root of 2. I won, of course; he didn’t know where to find the variable root function on his calculator. It was in a menu which itself he had to find. He did manage to get the answer around five minutes later.<\/p>\n
While people were impressed with those big calculators, some were missing the point: having the expensive calculator with way more functions didn’t necessariy mean an advantage. I recall a calculus exam to which you could bring any device you wanted. Once again, for me it was the TI “bare-bones” scientific.<\/p>\n
Today, the TI graphing calculator – itself around half the price it was then – is still great for graphing. However, in high school math, you don’t need the graphing function too often. That’s not to say it’s not handy – just that you don’t “need” it very often. Some teachers won’t allow its use on tests. I only use it to show other people how to – or else on rare occasions when I have a math problem of my own to solve outside of tutoring.<\/p>\n
The TI “bare-bones” scientific is still great for high school and university math. Similar to the TI grapher, it’s around half the price it was in 1990. It – or its SHARP or CASIO equivalent – is what I still use – as well as most of my students most of the time. (For the last ten or fifteen years, most people prefer the SHARP scientific, which is usually a few dollars more.)<\/p>\n
The calculator issue complicates learning math because it gives more choices. I’ll be continuing this vein in coming posts:)<\/p>\n