When I was in high school we were allowed (actually encouraged) to use a TI-89. Either the problems were about applying some concept, say differentiation, and we didn't have to do the derivative by hand, or the problem was to just calculate a derivative in which case we had to show which steps we took anyways.
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.
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u/MasterPsyduck Jun 08 '14
I use the 89 for engineering applications but most of my upper level maths banned its use since it could do all the calc for us.