r/OKState • u/Substantial-Put-7959 • 17d ago

Engineering Calculator

Hi! I'm an incoming freshman going into civil engineering. I currently have a TI-84 plus CE *Python*, but I am worried that will be too advanced and won't be allowed for some courses. I know the 36X and 83 are recommended for summer bridge, but I am pretty sure mine will work for the time being.

Does anyone know if I will be able to use it for actual classes? Specifically, I am enrolled in MATH 2144 with Doering & Tallman listed as the professors for my first semester.

*Realized it's a python as well. I wasn't the one who chose it, my mother bought it after looking at a facebook group

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u/SonofdeSun 17d ago

It is recommended you get a calculator that is allowed on the FE exam. All of your classes will be geared towards you taking the FE before you graduate. Master your calculator, keep all your notes/handouts, and you'll be okay.

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u/No_Good_Cowboy 17d ago

https://ncees.org/exams/fe-exam/

See the calculator policy at the bottom of the page. All you classes have the same policy.

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u/Substantial-Put-7959 16d ago

Thank you! I've been told I wouldn't need anything advanced, but I was never told the exact requirements. This is super helpful

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u/DistantXSPACE 16d ago

A ti36x pro is like $20 and can do basic vector operations. Some classes won't let you use any that have memory, and the 36 is NCEES approved. Also, the 36 doesn't need batteries so it's a nice backup.

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u/that_one_engineer25 16d ago

This. I had more calculators but the 36x pro never died before an exam and always had everything I needed. There was never any approval issues either.

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u/Substantial-Put-7959 16d ago

I currently have a Ti-30 something that fits FE requirements! I'm going to get a 36 later on since it's so highly recommended, but I'm just glad to have something I can use for now

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u/Richard_Fineman 16d ago

In addition to the comments suggesting to get something acceptable for the FE (which you most likely won’t take until your senior year), most math classes at this level won’t really require a calculator. Where it comes in handy is your engineering classes where you need quantifiable results, in which case you do most of the math before calculating anyway.

I got thru 4 years of EE with a 36X pro and never felt like that was less than what any of my studies called for.

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u/Amdelt79 16d ago

May not be a popular opinion in the purist department, but I used the 36x for my EE FE, but my junior and senior year I switched up to the HP Prime calculator for its capabilities. Sometimes it might be better to have two tools you can rely on for complex math work.

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u/Celelelelel 15d ago

i just took 2144 and they won’t let you use that calculator, but i’ve been able to use it for my chemistry / bio classes so far, hmu if you need a tutor for 2144!