Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

Tagged: graphing calculator

This topic has 7 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 8 years ago by Sue.

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

Author
Posts
May 30, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Sue
Participant
DD just finished up Algebra this year (MUS), and she only occasionally used an ordinary calculator. I required her to show her work most of the time. (In fact, I couldn’t really tell you of a specific instance where I told her she could skip showing the work….)
I haven’t given any thought to graphing calculators, but I recall seeing them on public school supply lists somewhere. (Walmart, maybe?) My question is this: when is a graphing calculator necessary? For which class(es)?
Now I’m showing my age….I never used a graphing calculator in high school! Did they even have them back then? (I heard that! No, I was NOT around when the abacus was invented….)
May 30, 2017 at 12:06 pm
Sue
Participant
Or maybe the term I’m looking for is “scientific calculator” instead.
Help! (I’m going to curl up with my abacus and take a nap….)
May 30, 2017 at 12:34 pm
Ruralmama
Participant
I don’t recall using a scientific calculator much if at all before college. I did use one for pre-calculus in college. My engineer husband used his a lot along with excel. Its not that hard to learn how… I would say maybe introduce it for algebra 2 or geometry if the text suggests it or to check work. As a side note my husband thinks that learning how to use all the formula functions in excel is good to do.
I am 30 do I don’t know how much has changed…
May 30, 2017 at 12:38 pm
Tristan
Participant
Makayla did MUS Geometry this year and didn’t need a graphing calculator.
May 31, 2017 at 7:45 am
Sue
Participant
Thanks, Tristan. You probably just saved me a bundle. I think I was having one of those, “Wait….am I missing something important here?” moments.

@Roslyn, I think then I can wait to purchase one. I use Excel more now than I used to, and I am still learning the formulas. Thank goodness for Google and the help function!
May 31, 2017 at 7:51 am
Sue
Participant
I just Googled and found Math-U-See’s FAQ’s. There, it says that a scientific calculator is needed for Pre-Calculus, but not before. Their Pre-Calculus course combines Trigonometry with other topics.
May 31, 2017 at 3:07 pm
Karen Smith
Moderator
My children never used a graphing calculator for any of their math courses. Two of my boys completed pre-calculus, and one son completed calculus. They did use scientific calculators for the higher math, chemistry, and physics.
June 1, 2017 at 12:03 pm
Sue
Participant
Hmmm….DD16 will be taking chemistry this year, so I should maybe buy a scientific calculator. Fortunately, they aren’t expensive. At home for assignments, she could always use an online one or an app on her tablet.
Thanks for the input, Karen.