Calculator Recommendations for Mathematics Courses

Calculator List | General Comments

Sharp 500's series -These calculators are marked DAL for Direct Algebraic Logic. This notation is more compatible with the TI graphing calculators.

TI 81 - NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PURCHASE. Outdated. Not adequate for Math 105 on.

TI 82 - Great graphing calculator. Does not have financial or statistical functions.

TI 83 - Does everything the TI 82 does plus important finance and statistics functions.

TI 83 Plus - Does everything the TI 83 does plus has lots of memory and can be upgraded.

TI 84 - Does everything the TI 83 and TI 83 plus does and has down loading capabilities.  These capabilities are not required for LCC Math classes.

TI 85 - NOT RECOMMENDED. More difficult to use. Do not expect to get help from instructors on this.

TI 86 - Will work with most classes if you know how to use it. Only a few instructors are familiar with this model. Check with your instructor.

TI 89 - Expect to learn on your own. Expect to have some quizzes without calculator.

TI 92 - Expect to learn on your own. Expect to have some quizzes without calculator.

HP 48 - Not supported with overhead projector displays. Only a few instructors are familiar with this model. Check with your instructor.

GENERAL COMMENTS: **The division has a limited number of graphing calculators for rent.  Go to the Math Resource Center, 16/169.

    1.    To choose a calculator to buy, look at the course you are in now, and the next course or two ahead. Find a calculator that fits that range. Don’t try to buy too far ahead. New calculators are coming out every year, so be sure you have current information.

    2.    Most students will buy more than one calculator if they are in college a year or more. Many students find it useful to have a non graphing scientific calculator like a SHARP DAL 500 series and, if they go beyond Math 95, a graphing scientific calculator like a TI 83 Plus. The non-graphing calculators are inexpensive ($12 - $20) and have features like metric conversion which the graphing calculators do not. They aren’t such a loss if they are broken, stolen or lost.

    3.    The Mathematics Department has overhead displays for Texas Instruments (TI) and SHARP DAL (non-graphing). We are not prepared to help you with Casio, Radio Shack, or other brands of calculators at this time. Only one or two instructors are familiar with Hewlett Packard (HP) calculators and TI 85, 86, 89, 92. The LCC Bookstore will buy back TI-83 Plus models during “Buy back” week.  TI-83 Plus models might be available for first day of textbook sales.

    4.    The TI 81, TI 82 and TI 85 are older models which either have fewer features or are harder to use.  You cannot download programs on the TI 81 and it does not have all the functions of a TI 83.
        Of course, if you are skilled with using a certain calculator, you can ask your instructor if it will work.

    5.     Some instructors prefer students to have the symbolic features of the TI89 or TI92 available for Mth 253-6. Other instructors  will help you get along with a lower model. Check with your instructor.

Revised 12/05/2005