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0 pointsparsimo20101y ago0 comments

OP's question wasn't about whether they should use a calculator on an exam or not. If you can trust that an exam has questions crafted to have integer answers and completed only with basic arithmetic, then use that strategy by all means.

OP's question was whether or not there should be replacements for the TI-84, and mentioned that this question arose from an experience taking an exam. Aside from the fact that they may be confused about what RPN is, I suggested that I would consider the use of computers a better focus for exams rather than getting a replacement for the TI-84. And aside from that, there are already replacements in the forms of new calculator product lines.

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bluGill1y ago

The correct answer depends on the exam's goal. If you want to verify understanding the fundamentals, then a pencil and paper is all you should get. However that limits the complexity of the problem you can be asked. With a calculator you can do more complex problems - but the tool will do some things for you and so if you get the answer wrong there is no way to know if you failed on the fundamentals (you need to drop out of this class and be send to the lower level one) or the complexity (stay in this class).

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