graphing calculator programs for pc?

[evof575gtc]

My professors recomended getting a TI-89 graphing calculator for my classes, but also mentioned that there are programs for PC that can do so much more if i can get a hold of them. anyone know of any good ones you can recommend and can help me out?

thanks in advance

 

[Ojas]

Erick, There are lots of free graphing calculator apps out there. Many of them might be OK in first-year calculus. In more advance courses, it might be best to just go with TI-89s (or whatever the professor and students use), so you can focus on the subject and not on why stuff works on everyone else's calculator but not yours. Then again, if you understand the concepts, it should not be factor.

Anyway, these look like good options to me:

• Mathematica - This is an awesome program and might be a worthwhile investment depending on your field. The student edition should be around $135.
• Microsoft Student 2006 - Includes a graphing calculator. $70. It should be available at CompUSA and other stores.
• DreamCalc - I have not used this, but it looks good. Free to try, $20 for standard edition (which looks like it would handle your needs).

There are even TI-89 emulators available, but these are really designed for developing software and require a ROM image from a real TI-89 to work.

Have you checked to see what software is available in your university’s bookstore?

 

[Patdeisa]

Check out Matlab as well. It's another powerful program like Mathematica, and is used in industry as well. I did my whole senior project in modelling a satellite control system in Matlab.

I'd second the purchase of a TI-89 or whatever calculator the professor recommends. Most of my classmates in college had the same calculator, so we could easily show others how to do problems. We even wrote thermochemical programs to run checks for use on midterms (professor made us show all work, but the program checked the numbers for us...).

 

[evof575gtc]

Thanks Ojas and Patrick.

Thanks Ojas and Patrick.
thanks for all the tips.
i'll look into those programs you guys mentioned.
i went ahead and picked up a ti89 for practical purposes.
it was rather expensive but i hope it pays off in the end.