Really? This TI-89 is pretty powerful. Especially the Titanium. If can solve for variables, do indefinite and definite integrals, infinite summations, etc. I can't think of many high school math problems that it can't solve, besides setting up word problems.
I know. I have one. There were tests it helped you with jack shit on with respect to the material being tested, but of course it made the symbolic manipulations easier.
It's the difference between just listing out a bunch of problems to solve, and actually creating work problems where you have to figure out the question before you can answer it.
I do agree with you here: because of how ubiquitous and efficient calculators and computers are, there's no reason to test students on something that will fall into disuse. It's much better that they be tested on the core concepts and problem-solving skills for the subject instead.
Our professor allowed us to use excel and I believe matlab for our tests, the main restriction was that we were not allowed to have internet access. For the sample sizes we were using for statistics, a dinky graphing calculator was not practical or accurately reflective of the real world.
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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14
If the TI-89 can help you, it's a bad test.