Which Calculator should I get...

[Voltman]

  Which graphics calculator should I get? Next year I will be in year 11 and undertaking Mathematical Methods CAS as well as General Maths (Advanced). As I'm starting this thread I am looking at the booklist given to me for 2009 and as mentioned above, I don't quite know which graphics calculator to buy. Looking at my year 11 booklist, there is the Calculator Texas Graphic TI-Nspire Cas and looking at my year 12 booklist there is the Calculator Texas Graphic TI-84. From this I have concluded that my school may have changed their graphics calculator for year 11 maths since of this year (from a TI-84 to a TI-Nspire). However, I am still not sure. No one has spoken to me about it. Which one should get? I am leaning in getting the TI-Nspire. And, I think we retain the same graphics calculator throughout the two years of VCE if one has chosen a math subject at my school. So, it has to be one of them only. I can't afford to get two to make sure. BTW, out of curiosity what major differences are there between the two calculators? Which one is better? I can see that the one I'm leaning into buying is the more expensive one, what possible reasons are there for this?!
Before someone tells me to, I will probably ask one of my teachers tomorrow (the next day is the last school day for me) regarding which calculator I should get.

[ed_saifa]

You won't be allowed to use Ti-84 in methods cas

[Aerith]

Don't you have to use TI-89 titanium for Methods CAS? Not TI-inspire?

[Glockmeister]

Either is fine.

Voltman, if you already have a TI-89, that is all you need for maths up to and including Yr12 Specialist Maths, no need to go buy another calculator.

[Voltman]

Don't you have to use TI-89 titanium for Methods CAS? Not TI-inspire?

There is no TI-89 titanium in my year 11 booklist as well as my year 12.

Glockmeister, I do not have a TI-89 titanium; only a scientific calculator. Putting this into consideration, which would be the best option?

[Flaming_Arrow]

you cant do methods CAS without a ti-89

[Glockmeister]

Ok, that's interesting cause my old school (it's weird saying that) made us buy graphic calculators (this was back when CAS wasn't really around).

My opinion is that you should purchase the CAS calculator as you are going Methods CAS this year. You are not permitted to have a non-CAS calculator (i.e Graphics Calculators) in the CAS examination. If you choose to do Specialist Mathematics next year, I would imagine that you will be doing the newly revised course (the details of which we don't know). This course I believe presumes you will be bringing a CAS calculator to the exams.

There is a major difference between the TI-84 and the TI-nSpires. Probably the most pertinent is that the CAS calculators (TI-nSpires) can differentiate/integrate/factorise equations (even with variables in them)e.g x^2 = 4 in one step, whereas you can't do that with the TI-84s.

[dekoyl]

I don't know what's more suitable for Methods CAS as I did non-CAS (which I used Ti-84+ for) however if you do want a Ti-nSpire and your book list has it for $218 and you want it for $180, you can consider buying it off me (head over to the selling section. It's nearly brand new )

Edit: The CAS people of our school use Ti-nSpires however I've seen some GMA people use Ti-89s

http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,7876.0.html is the nSpire link.