Which Calculator?

[VA_NowPE]

My advice - get the cheapest possible calculator that NCEES approves - I had the HP 35s and the TI-36x for backup. While the HP 35s was more powerful (cause you can program equations really easy and use statistical regresssion, etc.) the TI-36x would still help me solve 98 % of the problems just as quick. Not to mention the TI was $12 and the HP $ 50. BIG price difference!

 

[Clarkbug]

Has anyone tried the TI-36X II? I see it listed on the TI webpage, and Im liking the fact that it has a multi-line display. I was thinking of getting that and using my TI-36X Solar as a backup...

 

[wilheldp_PE]

Has anyone tried the TI-36X II? I see it listed on the TI webpage, and Im liking the fact that it has a multi-line display. I was thinking of getting that and using my TI-36X Solar as a backup...

I had it first, but the button quality sucks (sometimes it misses inputs), and some of the features are not intuitive to use. I was a long time TI Graphing Calculator user, but I made the switch to the Casio rather easily. The Casio is a much better calculator.

 

[buick455]

I bought two fx-115 ES calculators at Wal-Mart and use one at the office and one at home. They work fine for me and I like the replay function for equations. The manual is crap though.

I guess it depends on what your using it for but for the ME PE it is a good choice.

 

[csb]

I used a TI for my first two tries and bought the Casio on a whim for the third try and the Casio kicks the TI options ass. I chose TI because I worked with a TI-89, but the TI-30 is like a bank calculator. Casio is closer to the TI-89 than the TI is and that one it for me.

 

[JoeysVee]

I bought the Casio fx-115ES (2 of them just in case). I like it so far but the user manual sucks! It's a poster size piece of paper folded into the size of a deck of cards. It's not a normal users manual....you basically have to throw it away. Also if you leave something on the screen and the auto-shutoff kicks it off you'll lose what's on the screen and the history. Other than that I do like it!

 

[Katiebug]

I used the Casio fx-115ES for the FE exam and it is now my primary calculator at work (supplanting my TI-89 graphing calculator). The Casio's ability to handle matrix and vector operations allowed me to answer a number of the FE questions very quickly. I also made good use of the stats capabilities as well as several of the other functions.

Now I use it for routine arithmetic and unit conversions at work - I don't need the TI-89 for that, and 95% of the math that I do on a daily basis is no more than simple arithmetic.

I hope like heck it's still on the approved list when the time comes for me to take the PE in another year or two. I'll be ticked if I have to learn a new calculator...

I agree, the user manual is junk. I had better luck from downloading a PDF of the user manual and searching it for what I was looking for.

 

[Schuller]

I bought the Casio fx-115ES (2 of them just in case). I like it so far but the user manual sucks! It's a poster size piece of paper folded into the size of a deck of cards. It's not a normal users manual....you basically have to throw it away.

Casio official website has manual available for download, i printed it out 4 pages to one side of 8.5x11 sheet of paper. A lot more convenient.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

Or to let someone else borrow...as ridiculous as it is, there is inevitably at least one person who shows up without a calculator or with one that isn't allowed

YKW don't need no calculator.

Has anyone tried the TI-36X II? I see it listed on the TI webpage, and Im liking the fact that it has a multi-line display. I was thinking of getting that and using my TI-36X Solar as a backup...

I used it. you might want to get one ahead of time and practice with it, because the II means you input information differently. I was used to an 30Xa and hated the 30XSII. Matter of fact, I entombed one in the Worley exhibit and traded my backup to a guy in the office who took the exam the next cycle.

 

[jeb6294]

I used it. you might want to get one ahead of time and practice with it, because the II means you input information differently. I was used to an 30Xa and hated the 30XSII. Matter of fact, I entombed one in the Worley exhibit and traded my backup to a guy in the office who took the exam the next cycle.

??? I used a 30XSII when I took the exam...how is info entered any differently on that one?

 

[jillnova]

I hope no one switches their calculator at this point (T minus 1 day). Use whatever (NCEES-approved) calculator you studied with!

 

[FLBuff PE]

I hope no one switches their calculator at this point (T minus 1 day). Use whatever (NCEES-approved) calculator you studied with!

One word...abacus!

 

[jragg]

I used a TI-30XIIS for the exam, but only because it was given to me and I didn't think the FX-115 was allowed. I've used the Casio FX-115 in the past, and it is a far superior calculator. The buttons are more responsive, and it has a much better "feel" than the TI-30X did. You really have to mash the buttons on the TI to make them respond (at least a lot more than you do with the Casio).

I still went with the TI for the exam even after finding out that I could have used the Casio because I had studied with it. Go with what you know.

 

[Parks and Rec]

I enjoyed my HP 33s. My first HP and RPN was easy to pick up. I saved time on the water res. and transportation questions by programming some of the equations into the HP.

 

[SPSUEngineer]

Casio 115 Es = The best and only $18 at Target or Walmart. It does more than you will need it to and uses solar and battery. 2 line display as well.

 

[circleofsteel]

Casio for me. I used it for the longest time without realizing the many neat features. For example, in solver mode, you can specify variables with letters A, B, C etc, then plug values in. I used this to plug in the 4 multiple choice answers or values from tables in the question to see with came out. You can do something similar with the table function. Its too bad they don't publish a better instruction guide that explains better what you can do.

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

All right! Glad to see we've got some fellow Casio lovers in the house.

Too many wacky RPN folks around here.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

??? I used a 30XSII when I took the exam...how is info entered any differently on that one?

XSII you have to hit enter to get the answer; the Xa gives an answer per operation. Hard to expain.

Let's say the equation is 4*(3-1). With the Xa you'd hit 3 - 1 = * 4 to get the answer. With the XSII, you'd hit 4 * ( 3 - 1 ) = to get the answer. To me, the Xa is faster to use, but the XSII is better for iterative stuff.

 

[Sschell]

All right! Glad to see we've got some fellow Casio lovers in the house.
Too many wacky RPN folks around here.

RPN RPN RPN

I forced myself to learn RPN for the test... yes I know I will be the butt of a joke or two for that... but I wanted to do every little thing I could to shave every second (or fraction of a second in this case) off each problem I had to do...

Now I don't really have a preference, I use both daily, it just really sucks switching between the two

 

[TheKnack]

I used a Casio, and had a TI36 solar for backup. Somebody at my test brought a TI-91. When the proctor took it away he asked, "what am I supposed to use?"

the proctor replied, "not this" and walked away. LOL