N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 80 Reply 1, posted (8 years 1 month 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 3237 times:
All graphing calculators are allowed on the test. Then again, it has been a very, very long time since I took the test (I was in high school when they first came out with graphing calculators) and we thought the TI-83 was the absolute best because of the stats functions
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GoCOgo From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 701 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (8 years 1 month 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 3222 times:
If memory serves, all calculators except those with QWERTY keyboards are allowed. That means the TI-84 and TI-89, TI-89 Titanium are in, whereas the TI-92 / 92+ / Voyage 200 are out. Personally, I recommend the TI-89. Learn to use the built in Computer Algebra System (based on the Derive program), and the math part will be a cakewalk. My 89 has served me well from high school through college, and I give it more credit than myself for getting me through Calculus, Linear Algebra, etc. But you have to know how to use it well for it to help you.
By the way, a variety of math programs (and games) are available at www.ticalc.org in their file archive. But this requires a link cable to get them to your calculator.
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Jfkaua From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 1000 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (8 years 1 month 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 3200 times:
yes the TI-84 is allowed. thats what i have.
Here are the official restrictions. This is what will be read to the test takers the morning of the test.
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Every question on the math section of the SAT can be solved without a calculator; however, using a calculator on some questions may be helpful to students. A scientific calculator or graphing calculator is recommended.
The following are not allowed:
* calculators with QWERTY (typewriter-like) keypads
* calculators that contain electronic dictionaries
* calculators with paper tape or printers
* calculators that "talk" or make noise
* calculators that require an electrical outlet
* cell-phone calculators
* pocket organizers or personal digital assistants
* hand-held minicomputers, powerbooks, or laptop computers
* electronic writing pads or pen-input/stylus-driven devices
In Addition You may not share your calculator with another student during the test. Any use of calculators for sharing or exchanging or removing part of a test book or any notes relating to the test from the test room may be grounds for dismissal and/or cancellation of scores.
Calculators may not be on your desk or be used on the verbal sections of the test.
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Being how tight time is on the test and just about all formulas are supplied... the only thing I could see one putting on there calculator are the 4 quadratic equations, as they always show up more then once on each SAT. But in all honestly, for a test that you spend months for preparing... you should have them memorized.
DfwRevolution From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (8 years 1 month 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 3192 times:
Quoting LooneyToon (Thread starter): Would it be better to stick to a brand new TI-83 rather than the ones mentioned above?
I would... the Ti-83+ is a very capable calculator and unless you need the extra power, why go to the trouble (and cost) of learning a new system? When I'm being graded, I like to be familiar with what I am working with.
There are some well priced models on Ebay for that matter...
Jfkaua From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 1000 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (8 years 1 month 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 3188 times:
Quoting DfwRevolution (Reply 7):
I would... the Ti-83+ is a very capable calculator and unless you need the extra power, why go to the trouble (and cost) of learning a new system? When I'm being graded, I like to be familiar with what I am working with.
May seem miniscule but I have the ti-84 which graphs faster then the ti-83 especially when the graphs over a large range. May not seem big but with the SAT every second counts... and all the key placements and menus are EXACTLY the same as the ol TI-83
CaptOveur From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (8 years 1 month 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 3145 times:
If you can find one look into an HP-48GX. You better be a fast learner though.
It can do anything under the sun but it takes some getting used to. They are also out of production since the great satan (Carly Fiorina) killed HPs calculator division.
LooneyToon From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 444 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (8 years 1 month 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 3108 times:
I have decided to get the TI-84 Plus Silver
now the only obstacle is finding a place online that sends electronics (calculators) to APO/FPO address. I tried amazon but they dont.
HB-IWC From Greece, joined Sep 2000, 4414 posts, RR: 76 Reply 12, posted (8 years 1 month 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 3079 times:
One doesn't need a calculator for the SAT 1 Reasoning Test. The numbers involved are easy enough, so calculations can easily be done without a calculator. The only thing you can do with a calculator is waste time a lose the big picture of the question. The SAT 1 Math Section is not concerned with calculations, but rather tries to measure your analytical reasoning capabilities. Insight is far more important than the numbers involved. People who are starting to hit their calculator before even reading the question completely are mostly not doing well. Also, using a calculator to plug in answer options one by one is silly, as, again, you are wasting your time.
For those of you who are also sitting for the SAT II Mathematics IC/IIC, however, a calculator is absolutely necessary, particularly for trigonometric problems, involving sines and cosines of not so common angles.
Jfkaua From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 1000 posts, RR: 3 Reply 13, posted (8 years 1 month 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 3058 times:
Quoting HB-IWC (Reply 12): One doesn't need a calculator for the SAT 1 Reasoning Test. The numbers involved are easy enough, so calculations can easily be done without a calculator. The only thing you can do with a calculator is waste time a lose the big picture of the question. The SAT 1 Math Section is not concerned with calculations, but rather tries to measure your analytical reasoning capabilities. Insight is far more important than the numbers involved. People who are starting to hit their calculator before even reading the question completely are mostly not doing well. Also, using a calculator to plug in answer options one by one is silly, as, again, you are wasting your time.
This is not really true.. By all means all questions on the test can be solved without a calculator, but it is much faster on some questions to use them, and time is vital on the SAT. The trick is to know when to use them and when not to. For example a lot of times I Use the calculator on pattern questions, as figuring out the formula and what not takes longer then using the calculator. Also on graphs it is quicker to use the calculator then write it out. A recent question I had was finding the horizontal distance between two intersection points of two lines. This could be done by seeing where they = each other, but its much faster to just type them both into the calculator and count how many spaces are between them.
Now on the old SAT (prior to march this yr) the math was much easier to do without a calculator. Maybe that is what your basing your statement on HB-IWC
HB-IWC From Greece, joined Sep 2000, 4414 posts, RR: 76 Reply 14, posted (8 years 1 month 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 3022 times:
Quoting Jfkaua (Reply 13): Now on the old SAT (prior to march this yr) the math was much easier to do without a calculator. Maybe that is what your basing your statement on HB-IWC
I was indeed talking about the NEW SAT, not the old one! The only difference between the old and new SAT when it comes to the Math Sections has been the addition of preliminary concepts of pre-calculus, including behaviour of quadratic functions and vertical and horizontal shifts of functions, concepts of lines and their slopes and points of intersection of linear and quadratic functions. Also, exercises related to rational exponents have been added.
It is true that you can solve some of these pre-calculus problems with a graphic calculator. However, there is ABSOLUTELY no need for that. Just open your eyes and see that there's ALWAYS an easy way out of the exercise with very little calculations, by just using insights in the concepts of mathematics.
Trust me, I have a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, I have been involved in SAT testing for both the old and the new test, so I know what I am talking about.
ACAfan From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 709 posts, RR: 6 Reply 15, posted (8 years 1 month 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 3009 times:
Quoting LooneyToon (Thread starter): My TI-83 went dead a few days ago and i am in the market for a new and perhaps better Texas Instrument graphing calculator.
You are already really familiar with the TI-83 at this point in time. I say get another one or borrow a TI-83 for the SAT if you are taking it within a month or so.
To learn a new calculator for use on a really really important exam like the SAT is folly folly folly.
If you want a new gadget, fine. But I would hate for you to lose speed during the exam using a new calculator.
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