I’m what they call a “geek”. Not sure if you noticed, but I like technology. When I was in high school, I was a big fan of math. English and history and the like were definitely not my forte. In 9th grade when I was taking Geometry I even wrote (as in made up/created) a theorem. Yes, my very own theorem. I’m not sure what it was about anymore, but I think it had something to do with triangles. I really should have kept it.
When I was a sophmore in High School I purchased (or probably had my parents purchase FOR me) my first graphing calculator. It was a TI-83. It is now MANY years later, and do you know what is STILL working? My TI-83. Before there were smartphones, and netbooks we had our calculators. My friends and I even wrote several custom programs on our Texas Instruments calculators. I had one program that when I would run it, it would show me a scripture verse. We also wrote various programs that would make our homework easier, and other fun things like that (did I mention before that I am a “geek”?) I hadn’t used my calculator in a while (not a whole lot of reason to find the tangent of something for a stay at home mom), and so I dug it out of it’s drawer when I was first contacted by Texas Instruments to review the TI-Nspire. I replaced the batteries, and wouldn’t you know it, it still worked, and my programs still ran!
I was definitely excited to check out this new calculator, even though I’m not typically graphing equations anymore. My nephew is also a math genius. I wanted to share this new toy with him and help him learn a little bit more advanced math. Texas Instruments also sent me a t-shirt, that as soon as I saw I knew would be perfect for my nephew.
Now when it came down to actually using it, I started out by heading to the grocery store. My husband and I are on a super tight budget right now, and I’ve decided to only use cash when going to the grocery store. I could not, and would not go over my cash allowance for groceries. I started to enter everything into the calculator that I put into the cart. What is really great about the calculator is that it keeps the calculations on screen. So I can calculate how much per item something is, that is on sale for 4 for $5, then go back to the running tally just by looking at the previous line. The one thing that took me a while to figure out is how to make a fraction into a decimal. I would enter 4 divided by 5 and it would return 4/5. Thanks TI-Nspire… I KNOW it’s 4/5’s, can you give me something I can use?? I just had to press the squiggly equals sign in order to get my decimal. It worked out perfectly, and I had exactly enough cash to purchase my groceries.
My Sister is currently taking a chemistry class in college. I brought the calculator over to her house and she said that she mainly needs it to find the cubed root of something. It was easier for me to figure out how to do that then it was to convert the fraction into a decimal. You just press the N (root) X button and then enter your numbers! It was so easy! She borrowed the calculator until she was done with her assignment.
Some other great features of the calculator are…
TI-Nspire Graphing Calculator Features
- Like a computer in your hand. The versatile graphing calculator has many computer-like features, including a large, high-resolution screen, drop down menus and a built-in cursor which helps students explore problem solving strategies in real-time.
- Save and review work. Thanks to electronic document capabilities and built-in 20 MB of storage, students can create, save and edit their work similar to the word processing and file storage of a computer.
- 2 calculators, plus computer software, in one.Interchangeable keypads allow students to use the calculator in TI-Nspire, TI-84 Plus and TI-83 Plus modes, and included computer software brings the TI-Nspire experience to a PC or Mac.
I remember as a student having to choose between the TI-89 and the TI-83. If I remember correctly the TI-83 was more for statistics (which was my favorite math subject of all time), and the TI-89 was better for calculus. Now you don’t have to choose between the two, with the interchangeable keypads! This calculator is truly all in one! It also includes software so you can perform the same functions on the larger screen of your computer! There are even downloads for the calculator and cusomizable options. The Student Zone on the Texas Instruments site is a great resource for study help, and !
Also, this DEFINITELY wasn’t an option when I was a student, but there is now a “testing mode” function on the calculator to enable you to use it while taking the SAT, AP, ACT, IB®, PSAT/NSMQT, and Praxis™ exams, as well as many state tests.
Texas Instruments clearly makes some quality calculators, and I’m so excited to be able to give away a “Math Makeover Kit” that includes..
- A new TI-Nspire with Touchpad – this also includes the new computer software so students can bring their graphing calculator experience to a PC or Mac.
- 60 free minutes at Tutor.com.
- Several other fun items, including T-shirts, water bottles and cell phone charms.
To enter to win simply leave a comment telling me what your favorite math subject was (Geometry, Calculus, Algebra, Statistics, etc). To be in accordance with FTC guidelines there are no other methods of entry and you are limited to one entry per person. Giveaway ends September 5th at 8 PM MST. Thanks!
*Disclosure – Texas Instruments provided me with one calculator to facilitate my review and one to give away on my blog. All opinions of the device and brand are my own, and I was not told what to say about either.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive compensation if you make a purchase using the links.
I have four kids and would love to win this! Thanks for the contest!!
I loved loved loved ALGEBRA!!! My hubby and I are taking a STATS class and are in DIRE need of a calculator! We just had a baby and the funds are lacking so it would help EMENSELY!!!
I loved Algebra in school! We had some awesome math teachers.
This is a great prize and would love to win it for my daughter that is in college.
Once I ‘got’ it, I liked Algebra. It’s been a good kind of brain wracking to help the children with theirs.
Algebra was my best math subject. Now I have 5 kids, any of whom could use this calculator since one is in advanced classes as a junior in high school!
i loved algebra II, graphing parabolas and finding sins and co sins. my husband is in an algebra class now but he hates it! i love to punch away at numbers and love knowing there is an answer to almost anything. i will be taking more classes in my college career, math is something i enjoy.
I LOVED Calculus! And, now I am back in school…taking calculus again….so this would be GREAT!!
I loved Math when I was younger but I loved Algebra and Geometry the most! I wish they would have had the technology that we have now back then!
My 17yo dd is going into her Sr. year and taking Geometry. This would be awesome for her! My fave math subject was Algebra II, but I wasn’t a whiz at it by any means. Thanks for holding this contest! 🙂
Math is not my strong subject but Hubby is back in school and he would love this!
My son could soooooo use this to get him ready for middle school! I was never a math whiz, does addition count, HAHA!! I guess I would have to say Geometry.
My favorite subject in school was just plain old basis math. My daughter is in high school now and it would be great to win this Texas Instrument calculator. She has another style of TI calculator and uses it daily for geometry.
Algebra was my favorite math. I liked dealing with fractions and getting to learn how to use a calculator 🙂
My favorite math subject was geometry, followed closely by algebra. Math was always my best subject and one I always enjoyed. My 13 year-old is starting her first year of algebra and we were just told we need to purchase a TI-83 or compatible graphing calculator for home use. I would love to win the N-spire for her (but I would play with it, too!) 🙂 Thanks!
I would love to be entered for this! Have you heard the song, “Is There Life Out There?” by Reba McIntire? That’s me! I’m a mom of 4 beautiful kids ages 3 to 13 (3 of which have special needs), and I just made the HUGE leap and started college (a little older then some of the other students *ahem*). I’m in Pre-Algebra now (by choice, needed a refresher!), but Geometry was always my favorite math subject (I may not have been great at it, but I did it!). Great giveaway, thank you for my entry!
My favorite math subject, by far, was statistics. I use it in my everyday life as well, mostly at work but I find lots of reasons to use it in my everyday life too! It’s amazing how much you use math and don’t realize it.
Oh my gosh, I’m awful with math! About the only thing I do well is subtract-from the checkbook. Lol!
On a serious note, I have the most amazing, mathematically inclined child on the planet, and I would love to win it for him. Hopefully he can teach his Mama a thing or two 🙂
I liked Geometry!
Cool giveaway! I loved math in school, until Algebra came along. Geometry was pretty fun though. My baby sister just started her first year of college & I’m sure one of these would be a big help!
I absolutely loved math. Math of all sorts. I was a math tutor in college while I was majoring in Accounting and Finance. Both my husband and I have been blessed with 2 boys that inherited the math gene as well. Both are in the accelerated math programs in school. One wants to be an engineer when he grows up and the other hasn’t decided yet.
Thanks
Tammy
I liked them all – geometry, algebra, stat – not calculus – not a good prof.
Would love it for keeping running tally at store and for daughter.
My favorite math subject is Algebra!!! I’ve passed the love of Math to my 8-year-old daughter! Math Rocks
Statistics was a college fave, thats for sure!
Personally, my favorite math subject was geometry. However, I would love to win this calculator for my son who is a senior in high school. He absolutely LOVES math and physics! He is currently taking college calculus at a local 4 year college, and hopes to attend Georgia Tech next fall majoring in aerospace engineering. This would be an awesome calculator for someone like him!
I loved accounting…black and white numbers. I am going to go back to school (at age 45) and will have to start with beginning algebra. It was an elective when I was a senior. Oh, the times.
I just love math! If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be calculus with geometry coming in a very close second!
If it was math, I loved it (and still do!). I’d have to say my favorite was
calculus. I love math so much, got a bachelor’s degree in it, just so I could
take more math classes! I guess I’m definitely a math geek! (and proud of it)
I like Algebra.
Basic math was my favorite. Although I didn’t mind algebra as much as geometry. Sure wish I had this when I was in school but this will come in handy because I’m thinking of going to college.
I loved Geometry in high school. It was the only math I was really good at. But, my 17 year old son loves math and would really appreciate this calculator. My husband has been out of work since January and we could really use this!
I am studying to be a math teacher and I can honestly say that I love ALL math! Math was my favorite subject in high school and is still my favorite in college. This is a great giveaway!
ALGEBRA
My husband teaches in an elementary school and is helping the students love math. Calculaters like this are not an option in our area, as budgets are very limited. My husband would be able to show/teach the students so much if we could win this one.
Statistics!
I did enjoy math at first in high school, but then i had a teacher that just didn’t explain algebra problems in a way that I could get it. This was true for most of her students. Now that I’m an adult taking online college classes math is much easier for me. Right now I’m taking business math and it’s pretty easy. I’m also helping my son with his schoolwork. He is attending a virtual charter school and he struggles in math. This would be a great help for both of us.
I loved geometry!
I loved my Algebra II class. Wished there had been an Algebra III class 🙂
I loved geometry and I still use it just about every day!
Math is fine, but anything higher ie. algebra, trig., stat. was difficult for me 🙁 that’s why I need a calculator!
I would love to win this as I will be going back to college in November with some very face paced advanced classes.
I just love math! Numbers make sense to me.
I would LOVE to win this. My favorite math subject was Algebra.
Hi Sarah. I’m a fellow stay-at-mommy too. 🙂 Always loved math & science – favorite math is Algebra – think of it as puzzles to solve. Hubby has a degree in Math/IT & our kiddos are following in our footsteps – son is already a techno geek at 7 (and I mean that very lovingly!) 🙂 Just went back to college to finish up the science degree I started many years ago – taking a Calculus course, which highly recommendeds the use of a graphing calculator- just haven’t had the money to purchase one yet. The TI would certainly get alot of use -rest of my math & science classes & my sons’ math classes throughout their school years. 🙂 The tutor session would be great for my Chem class too! Thanks, Sarah. Keep up the great work of helping all the follow moms keep up with latest and greatest. 🙂
I enjoyed career math
I never actually took it but did it in my free time: Calculus. Yeah, I’m nerdy. I love physics too.
I loved algebra. I could do algebra all day long, but geometry was a whole nother story! 🙂
I enjoyed everything except when I got to calculus.
I really enjoyed Geometry and algebra was ok. I could really use this when i go back thank you !
Wasn’t my favorite subject, but I did enjoy geometry and my teacher trying to get us to understand.
My children, a high school senior and 2nd grader, like it more than I did.
I didn’t enjoy math until nursing school.
Would love to have this for my daughter, she is working on her masters degree.