Re: Help buying a calculator

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Re: Help buying a calculator

Patrick McGinn wrote:

> <<<<<I'm a 9th grade student looking to buy a graphing calculator, but I
> know nothing about this sort of thing. I'll need it to be able to do
> everything from Algebra to Calculus, and maybe more (I'd like it to last). I
> was wondering if anyone would be so gracious as to help me make a decision,
> and answer a question for me:
> -Does the programming language differ from Ti-8x model to model?
> Any help is greatly appreciated, and Thank You.>>>>>
>
> I'm in tenth grade right now, and I use an 89.  It's an amazing calculator,
> but like STL said, it can be too powerful sometimes.  The temptation to use
> the solve() and factor() features all the time instead of working the
> problem yourself is huge.
>
> I used an 82 from seventh grade up through ninth and never had a problem.
> If you have an 82, there is no reason at all for you to get an 83.  There
> are no major functional differences, so you're better off sticking with the
> calc you have now or taking it a step higher.
>
> If you do go higher, get the 86 or 89.  If you've got a friend who has
> either, test it out in math class for a few days and see if it fits.  One
> problem with the 89 is that statistics are a pain to do, so when you get to
> that, you'll need to read the manual.
>
> As for the programming language, yeah, it does differ.  The 89 and 92+ are
> fairly compatible, and TI-BASIC doesn't differ incredibly, but don't count
> on being able to use the link cord to get games from a different model.
> You'll be better off buying a graph link and getting ones that were meant
> for your calc.  (The school should have one in the computer lab, ask the
> teacher.)
>
> For more info, check out the following URLs:
> http://www.ticalc.org/calculators/index.html
> http://www.calc.org/calcinfo.html
>
> Xaos
> 80 97 116 114 105 99 107 32 77 99 71 105 110 110

I know for a fact that there is 1 program I know of that can link between
models.  The game ZTetris (or Tetris for the 92) for the 82/83/85/86 is almost
identical on all these models.  Thus it is possible to link play a 82 to a 92
for Tetris.
References: