TI-89 and AP Test


[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

TI-89 and AP Test



The College Board allows the new TI-89 on the AP Calculus AB and BC
tests.  The TI-89 can do definite integrals symbolically; in other
words, if you ask it for the integral of 1/Sqrt(1-x^2) from 0 to 1 it
will tell you Pi/2 instead of 1.5708...

It was not infallible; for example, it failed to solve the integral from
0 to infinity of e^-(x^2)  (Sqrt(pi)/2, if you don't remember), but it
was still damn powerful.  Now, who's going to bother learning how to
integrate if the calculator will do it for them on the AP test?  I say,
either ban the TI-89 from the AP or lengthen the calculator-less section
of the test.

Comments?

-Peter


Follow-Ups: