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 Praxisâ„¢ 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.
Alegra 1 was my fav. had the best teacher EVER!
I think I’d have to say my favorite was algebra, although I loved geometry too. The only math course I ever took that I didn’t really enjoy was calculus… I got As in it, but it just sort of blew my mind. 🙂
We moved every year and I missed out on quite a bit of math stuff. So now that we homeschool, I am learning what I missed and I am loving it!! It is much easier the second time around. lol
I liked Algebra, but not as much as you did 😉 LOL LOVED your review!
Always loved algebra was my favorite.
My favorite was Geometry.
I have never been a fan of math, but if I had to picka favorite math subject, it would be Geometry. I am returning to college now at age 45 and am taking Intermediate Algebra…next semester is Statistics!!! I could surely use the graphing calculator for that class! :o)
I have always loved Geometry!! My son is an eighth grader who loves math. He wants to be an Engineer. The Ti-Nspire calculator would help in his academic career!! Thank you for the opportunity!!
geometry is my favorite!
My favorite math was business math.
Algebra is my fav but my high school grandkids are into all sorts of advanced math subjects…they would love the Math Rocks prize package!
I was a fan of Geometry.
i love all math mostly geometry my son would really get use from this calculator
My favorite subject was Algebra, and I had that same TI83 and it still works great this many years later. 🙂
I meant to also say that this would be an awesome calculator to help with homeschooling! I have 11 and 12 year old boys that could definitely use this over the next few years! Plus, my mom would be so jealous! She’s a math teacher and once actually got a spiffy TI calculator for her anniversary present from my dad! 😀
Algebra!!
algebra
I had a lot of fun with College Algebra, but am completely in love with Contemporary Math at the moment. This would be a lot of fun to be able to show my daughters the endless possibilities you have with math and the right tools. Thanks
My favorite math subject in school was Geometry.
Geometry! Math teacher husband, college math major son, high school advanced math daughter!!
I really don’t like math…hence I would love a calculator to do it for me 🙂
My fav math subject was Trig…
I still have my TI-83, too…but I haven’t checked to see if it still works lately!
My favorite subject was definitely algebra!
Knowing I would be a stay at home mom, I took several classes in high school geared towards that…home economics, business, and math. I think I loved accounting the most. The TI-83 definitely has sentimental value here too 🙂 In high school, my best friend (definitely a geek by all means:)) wrote a program on his 83 which took me through a series of about twenty questions which eventually ended in the calculator asking me on a date! Well, that best friend and geek is now my husband! I am a stay at home mom of five kids whom I homeschool. My two oldest are years ahead in math and will soon need one of these. Also, my husband just returned to college Sept. 1 and will be needing one of these. That will probably take up most of the calculator’s time, but I will definitely claim it on grocery shopping day! I love the ideas you had in your blog for that…cell phones are not real calculator friendly and mine is definitely not that technical. Thanks for the opportunity to win this!
Mt favorite Math classes were the Algebra ones.
i love stats!
I love math! In school I loved geomoetry (he proofs — who likes those?), algebra (figuring out all of those variables!) and even intro to trig and calculas! Now I am helping my middle school daughter with her homework (when she lets me) so this would be great for all of us!
I love stats
Always enjoyed math, algebra was probably my favorite, enjoyed trig also.
I loved algebra and linear algebra because I had awesome teachers/professors for those courses. I even took a class called Super Math that met at 6:15am before regular high school classes started. I attribute my love for math to both my father and some really great teachers that made learning fun. Now both my kids are really enjoying math and I would love to have a calculator to help them with their upper level math.
i’d have to say algebra and trigonometry were my favorites…..its funny how all the numbers and letters could be arranged and made complete sense!
my next favorite was math for nurses…..there i was able to apply all that hard work from high school algebra (you remember how they always said that you’d use algebra later in life, and you always thought they were crazy?).
i love all math.
i love all math but the new math dont understand.
loved geometry not so much love for algebra maybe if i had been able to use one of these i would have liked it
glad to read your review as I need tpo buy my daughter a graphing Calculator for next semester
I struggled through Alegebra! But thanx to my wonderful teacher, I ended up doing very well.
Analytical Geometry and Calculus
I liked Algebra and I’m going to be taking Statistics in college pretty soon. My daughter is takin pre-calc in high school next year. This would be a great prize for us to win!
I really enjoyed math–probably why I became an engineer. Differential equations was my favorite. Does that officially make me a Geek?
My favorite subject in math had to be algebra. I wasn’t that great in H.S. but after I finished college I tried teaching for a while and landed with one of the greatest teachers I’ve ever met! He made math fun and easy. Now my boyfriend thinks I’m a math wiz because I can do equations in my head! lol. well now we have his son living with us and he will start school in about a week! sooooo nervous now but a great calculator would come in handy! I hope I win. 🙂 it would be a great gift for him..
I would love to have TI-Nspire to give it to my nephew.
I loved math, but my best class was physics. i viewed that as math with a reality check! my son enjoys math and he’d go crazy with a calcualtor like this one. i never win anything in these blog giveaways, but ya’ never know.
Algebra – can’t remember it now though.
My boys are both in advanced math classes. They could really use this calculator. I unfortunately am not very good at math. This calculator would definately come in handy and we could let the boys share it. My husband will also be going back to school soon too. What a blessing it would be to win this calculator.
Also, my husband was in a work related accident and lost his left leg. We are not able to afford such a nice calculator for our boys as he is not back to work yet and maybe will never be able to return. Thanks again for the opportortunity to win this calculator. Kim
I completely loved Geometry, except for the proofs, while I was in high school many years ago. Now, my two daughters have really shown a great interest and ability for math. We just bought an entry level graphing calculator for our Sophomore to use in Trig. but would love the opportunity to give her a calculator that will give her assistance well into her college years.
Algebra was definitely my favorite!!!
I loved math, because with dyslexia I could always check my answers. Algebra was my favorite.
I have to say Geometry. I had the best teacher and she made all those postulates and theorems make sense.
Statistics Baby!…100%…..please let me win….i just got layed off from my job
Do I have to pick just one subject? I was a math wiz from elementary school right up to my 400 & 500 stats classes in college, but by far my favorite would probably be statistics… that and (forget term) when you use money aging principles..
Well, I was not fond of math, but i know how to do precentages off very well, in stores all my friends ask me to figure it out for them. Give me a sale and my math skills kick in I guess 🙂 My kids would love me to win this for them, they are at the start (freshman) and younger of need this kind of tool. They are way smarter in math then i am. Lucky for them :0
My favorite math class was freshman Algebra. I had a GREAT teacher (ms. Cole) and I learned more in that class than any of the next 3 years!
Geometry was probably my favorite. I wasn’t the best math student and I really struggled with Geometry. I had a retired military man as a teacher and one day, after spending countless days in tutorials questioning theorems and postulates, he said “Don’t question it. It is a fact. You can’t change it.” Now I teach HS English, but I still have students ask for math help. When it comes to Geometry, I always tell my students that story and it helps them realize that not everyone gets math!