I am going back to school to finish my math degree. I have a HP 49G+ and I want to designate a backup in case a CAS calculator is not allowed. I have an original 39G, but would it be worth it to get the 39G+?

Thanks.

Hi Eddie,

I enjoy your posts, but I am confused. What on earth would anyone doing an advanced math degree need a calculator for; can't you do it all in your head?;-)

Seriously though, seems to me that a calculator is nothing but a crippled toy for a mathematician--you will have powerful comPuting power at your disposal when you need that sort of support. And math is, well, more like philosophy at high levels, yes? I am a number cruncher (engineer) so I use these devices. But in college, the math courses I took had absolutely no need for a calculator---

I have heard that the undergrads are using calculators now (we've heard a fair amount about it here) but at the graduate level, I would hope that there would be no need for such a crutch....

Maybe I am just a dinosaur, but I just cannot see the point.

Best regards,
BILL

Edited: 2 Feb 2005, 11:09 a.m.

Well, I speak from the same experience you already possess about the newer Hp's.

If you like the algebraic mode of the HP39G (and I like how the algebraic mode of the 39G works better than the Hp49G's algebraric mode), it may be worth it to buy.

For me, though, I would rather purchase an Hp48G instead. You get a much more capable calculator (although slower) than the algeraic only Hp39G+. If you are using your Hp49G in algebraic mode, you might also consider a Ti-86.

Both the Hp 48G and the Ti-86 offer quit a few extra features that are not available to a bare Hp39G.

I too am a number cruncher. I will find out if the graduate courses are still calculator-independent. I expect to start school again in the Spring.

Having possessing both 48G and a TI-86, I (tentatively) decided to use the 86 as the backup, although I may not need it much. Time will tell. Thank you Ron.

I did forget about the Statistics ability of the Hp39G+ as compared to the Hp48G or Ti-86. It is much better, but you can find downloads for either the 48 or 86 to bring both into compariable features of the Hp39G's stat functions.

And for the 39g+ you can download my stat pack to increase its capability substantially, and then it is much better than either the TI-83/84 or any other calculator. (minus StatPro49 )