A geeky question...

[gridlore]

what model calculator do you own? Do you still use it on a regular basis?

I own a TI-30XA. I figure that since the one thing I really need to brush up on if I'm going back to school is math, I'd find an algebra book and start force-teaching myself. Having a good calculator to help seem,s to be a good idea.

Comments

[mdlbear]

I was quite fond of my Casio scientific calculator, a long time ago. These days one needs a graphing calculator.

I personally haven't owned a physical calculator in a long time; I use the calculator program on my computer.

[caerbannogbunny.livejournal.com]

Two things:

One, this site: http://academicearth.org/ has some online lectures in particular math areas that might help you get up to speed (for free). (Note: Linear Algebra isn't the Algebra you think it is...)

Two, if you don't want to invest in a graphing calculator at first and/or you want to go further than the basics (and have a laptop to bring to class), you might want to check out learning either Octave GNU (http://www.gnu.org/software/octave/) which looks scary but is pretty powerful or Euler Math Toolbox (http://eumat.sourceforge.net/) which is prettier. Both will do all the graphing you will ever want to do, allow you to print it and/or past your graphs into a paper so you can turn it in without handwriting issues...

Also, just for fun, if you are using Google Chrome as a browser, when you open a new tab and see "Most Recent" and "Apps" at the bottom. Click Apps and go to the Webstore. Under "Education" there are multiple apps that will let you do essentially the same kind of graphing you can do on a calculator (for free) as well as different kinds of study aids.

Might help get you more comfortable with math again...

[claidheamhmor]

I have a financial calculator around that I used for my BCom, but I generally use the calculator on my cellphone or a scientific calculator app on my Playbook.