Mathematics can be Fun!

If you think math is boring, think again. It's now a good reason to go to the bar and get a drink.

According to this story, Mathematics Of Beer Bubbles, beer and the mathematical analysis of it has implications for the development of newer and better materials.

Calculator Policy - ACT Mathematics Test

How important is it to know an exam's calculator policy? Well, the ACT thinks it's very important. On their policy page, they highlight the following blurb:

"Using the TI-89 is the most common reason students are dismissed from the ACT for prohibited calculator use."

They don't mention how many students have been dismissed because of this. But it would be safe to venture a guess that if they felt it necessary to prominently display this statement then it's something that has happened quite often.

Whether you are taking the ACT Mathematics Test or any of the myriad of standardized exams most high-school students are taking, it is important to know the calculator policies for these exams.

Which calculators can you use on the ACT Mathematics Test?

You can use any four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator as long as they:

• do not have a computer algebra system
  
• is not part of a computer, PDA, cell phone
  
• does not have a writing pad / pen-input device
  
• does not have a QWERTY keyboard
  

You can use calculators with the following with modifications:

• paper tape w/o tape
  
• models that make noise w/ the sound turned off
  
• infrared data port if it's covered with duct or electrician's tape
  
• power and electrical cords are removed
  

The following models were specifically highlighted as prohibited:

• TI-89 series
  
• TI-92 series
  
• TI-Nspire CAS series (non-CAS okay)
  
• HP 48GII
  
• HP 40G series
  
• HP 49G series
  
• HP 50G series
  
• Casio fx 2.0
  
• Casio ClassPad 300
  
• Casio ClassPad 330
  
• Casio CFX-9970G series
  

Remember that these policies can be updated at any time and without notice. As the test taker, it is your responsibility to be aware of the calculator policies for all standardized exams you are taking.

Need to review the latest policy for this or other standardized exams? Calculator Town has a page full of links to calculator policies for this and other standardized exams.

New Pricing!

Check out the Calculator Town website for new pricing!

We found a new supplier who is able to give us a better deal. And of course, we are passing the savings on to you!

We now have much better deals on many of our models, especially the graphing calculators, including:

• TI-89 Graphing Calculator Titanium
  
• HP 50g Graphing Calculator with SD Card Slot
  
• HP 39gs Graphing Calculator
  

Head on over and check them out!

CalculatorTown Squidoo Lens

If you have some time, please check out our companion Squidoo lens. It's still a baby squid and a work in progress (as are all babies!). Please let us know what you think. We are always looking for feedback. Thanks!

Taking the AP Calculus AB / BC exam with an Approved Calculator

The AP Calculus exams are administered by the College Board to high school students for possible college credit.

According to the College Board, "the use of a graphing calculator is considered an integral part of the AP Calculus course, and is permissible on parts of the AP Calculus Exams."

Unlike the SAT exams, the College Board provides a list (click here for BC list) of graphing calculator models that are approved for use.

They assume that any graphing calculator a student uses to take the exam has the following four (4) capabilities:

• "Plot the graph of a function within an arbitrary viewing window"
  
• "Find the zeros of functions (solve equations numerically)"
  
• "Numerically calculate the derivative of a function"
  
• "Numerically calculate the value of a definite integral"
  

Calculator Town sells several graphing calculators that are approved for use on the AP Calculus AB & BC exams. Click on the links below to learn more about and buy these approved calculators.

• HP 39gs Graphing Calculator
  
• HP 50g Graphing Calculator
  
• TI-89 Titanium Graphing Calculator
  
• TI-Nspire Graphing Calculator
  

Is your calculator also approved for the SAT, AP Physics, or ACT exam(s)? Check out Calculator Town's Calculator Policies page to keep up to date on each testing organization's latest list of approved calculators!

Calculator Policies for Standardized Exams

Calculator Town is proud to announce a new feature of our website! We have just added a page of links to calculator policies for a number of standardized exams. Visit this page to easily find the calculator policies for the exams you are taking. This will help ensure that you purchase an approved graphing calculator or scientific calculator for all the exams you need to take.

Don't be one of those people selling your calculators on Craig's List or eBay with the message "I bought this calculator for the SAT but found out I couldn't use it."

Check out the policies now!

A Poll and a Duel

Check out the companion lens on Squidoo. There is a poll and a duel.

The poll question is, "When should students be allowed to use calculators in the classroom?".

The duel statement is, "High school students should be required to take four years of math class.".

Please participate.

Thanks!

Career Paths for Math Majors - Lawyer?

If someone asked you what kind of jobs a math major could get, how would you answer? Would you reply with math teacher or perhaps statistician? How about lawyer?

In my new article I state that with a degree in mathematics one is well prepared to become a lawyer (after law school of course!).

To view the article, click here!

Which Graphing Calculator Is Right For You?

Are you looking for a graphing calculator but not sure which one to buy. In addition to knowing which standardized tests you can use them on you also want to know what math classes you can use them in. Of course you can use them in any math class, but certain models are recommended more for certain levels, whether it be trigonometry or college algebra.

Texas Instruments provides both of these in a handy one page table:

http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/nonProductSingle/graphing_course_comparision.html

HP also provides some information. Unfortunately they only list approved courses but not recommended classes:

http://h20331.www2.hp.com/Hpsub/downloads/Post_Exam_approvals_FEB2008.pdf

The PDF from HP is over a year old but still relevant. However, you should always consult the calculator policies of the specific exams you are taking and of course ask your math / science teachers about their own graphing calculator policies and whether they recommend or require (or prohibit) specific models.

Buying or Renting?

With the high cost of graphing calculators it's no wonder that one can find calculator rental companies offering to help students lower their costs. However, is renting a calculator really a better deal?

In an article I just wrote I look into whether it is better to buy or rent.

In it I compare the cost of renting a couple of Texas Instruments over different lengths of time to the cost of owning the same models.

Check it out and add your comments below.

The Top 10 Questions Parents Ask about Graphing Calculators

I was just reviewing this list of questions prepared by Texas Instruments. I found a problem with one of their answers.

The seventh question they list is, "Can my child use a graphing calculator on the SAT* and ACT?". The answer they provide is "Yes. Graphing calculators are permitted or even required on SAT*, ACT, PSAT* and AP* exams."

This answer is not 100% accurate. Although a graphing calculator is permitted (or required) when taking many standardized tests, NOT ALL graphing calculators are permitted.

I've already covered why some graphing calculator models are not permitted for takers of the SAT and PSAT tests in previous posts. To find out more take a look at those posts.

A TI-83/TI-84 Calculator Tutorial

I just came across this site which provides tutorials for the TI-83 and -84 calculators which I believe would be of interest to those of you who have either of these models.

They have a number of tutorials on subjects covering college algebra and statistics.

Take a look and let us know what you think about it!

Save up to 15% during our Back to School Sale!

It's time to get ready to go back to school. If you're in high school or college that probably means math classes, science classes, and standardized tests. So to help ease the trepidation of SAT's, homework, and Trigonometry, we're going to help you save some money. Our Back to School sale starts today. Save up to 15% on select models between now and September 15, 2009.

Check out these models from HP and Texas Instruments:

• HP 50g Graphing Calculator with SD Card Slot
  
• TI-Nspire Graphing Calculator
  
• HP 33s Scientific Calculator w/ HP Solve
  

Taking the PSAT/NMSQT® Exam with an Approved Calculator

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

As with the SAT exam, the College Board does not provide a list of specific calculators models that are approved for usage. According to their site any graphing calculator, scientific calculator, or four-function calculator is approved* for usage provided that it:

• is a standalone device (e.g., not part of a cell phone or PDA)
  
• is not a stylus-driven device
  
• does not utilize a writing pad
  
• does not have a QWERTY (typewriter-like) keypad
  
• does not have printing capabilities.
  

Calculator Town sells several calculators that are approved for use on the PSAT exam. Click on the links below to learn more about and buy these approved calculators.

• HP 33s Scientific Calculator w/ HP Solve
  
• HP 50g Graphing Calculator with SD Card Slot
  
• TI-89 Graphing Calculator Titanium
  
• TI-Nspire Graphing Calculator
  

* Calculators can only be used on the mathematics portion of the PSAT exam.

Taking the SAT exam with an Approved Calculator

The SAT exams are well known and inspire fear and concern in high school students throughout the United States and abroad. They are administered by the College Board on select dates throughout the year.

Unlike other exam administrating organizations, the College Board does not provide a list of specific calculators models that are approved for usage. According to their site any graphing calculator, scientific calculator, or four-function calculator is approved* for usage provided that it:

• is a standalone device (e.g., not part of a cell phone or PDA)
  
• is not a stylus-driven device
  
• does not utilize a writing pad
  
• does not have a QWERTY (typewriter-like) keypad
  
• does not have printing capabilities.
  

Calculator Town sells several calculators that are approved for use on the SAT exam. Click on the links below to learn more about and buy these approved calculators.

• HP 33s Scientific Calculator w/ HP Solve
  
• HP 50g Graphing Calculator with SD Card Slot
  
• TI-89 Graphing Calculator Titanium
  
• TI-Nspire Graphing Calculator
  

* Calculators can only be used on the mathematics portion of the SAT exam.

Buying an Exam Approved Graphing Calculator

High school students are one of the main users of calculators. Standardized exams are a core reason for their usage.

Standardized exams are administered by various organizations. Each of these organizations decides what calculators are approved for use on any of the exams they administer. Unfortunately, each list of approved calculators is different. Thus, the high school student planning on taking several standardized exams over the course of his or her high school career should do some research before purchasing a new calculator for the PSAT or SAT exam can also be used in a subsequent year when taking a state mandated exam (e.g., the Mathematics Regents Exam in NY state) or any of the AP Exams (e.g., Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry).

As students prepare to go back to school and begin to purchase school supplies one of the items they may need to purchase is a calculator. With these thoughts in mind, coupled with he high cost of many of these calculators (many are graphing calculators), this blog will focus much of its attention over the next few weeks on the identification of approved calculators for the different exams students will be faced with during the coming school year.

Calculator Town - Open for Business!

Calculator Town is the online source for graphing calculators, scientific calculators, and more! Find quality calculators from top brands including HP, TI, and Sharp Electronics.

Models available for sale include:

• HP 50g Graphing Calculator with SD Card Slot
  
• TI-89 Graphing Calculator Titanium
  
• TI-Nspire Graphing Calculator
  
  

Visit www.CalculatorTown.com to learn more about these and other graphing calculators, scientific calculators, financial calculators, and more.