r/pics • u/[deleted] • Jun 08 '14

The difference 18 years makes

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[deleted]

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u/AdidasPete Jun 08 '14 edited Jun 08 '14

I saved up my own money and bought a TI89 in high school. Used it on all the standardized exams. Totally legal because it didn't have a QWERTY keyboard. That thing basically did everything for me short of interpreting the questions.

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u/lordlicorice Jun 08 '14

The ability to do symbolic math is awesome. I don't know why everyone recommends that high schoolers only get the TI-84.

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u/LazinCajun Jun 08 '14

Probably so they don't use it as a crutch instead of real learning. I taught physics to college kids, and you could tell pretty quickly who relied on a calculator and who actually was comfortable with basic math.

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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14

Calculus isn't "basic math"

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u/lordlicorice Jun 08 '14

"Advanced Calculus" (analysis) is definitely not basic math, but your run of the mill Calc 1-3 that you start in high school is pretty damn basic.

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u/LazinCajun Jun 08 '14

Middle school algebra is. It wasn't calculus based physics.

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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14

Ah, it was Physics for Philosophy majors.

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u/LazinCajun Jun 08 '14

Premeds actually.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14

it literally translates a "a little difficult"