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From: JSHEA@CLEMSON.CLEMSON.EDU (John Shea)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: RE: The use of calculators in teaching calculus
Message-ID: <0213797640000F99@gacvx2.gac.edu>
Date: 7 Dec 90 04:42:00 GMT
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     Having owned an HP-28 since my junior year in high school and
now being a proud owner of a HP-48sx, I can look back and realize
that the calculator only helped me in my study of calculus and
other mathematics.
     I think that the 48 could definitely aid in the study of calculus.
It is able to quickly graph equations, and then allows you to easily
find roots, extremum, the area under the curve, and the value of the
derivative.  You can easily zoom in on any part of the graph.  I was
not allowed to use my calculator in most of my calculus classes, but
I now find it essential.
     The ability to solve sets of linear equations using matrix
inversion is essential for diff. eq. and my EE classes.
     All of the early calculus classes here at Clemson are now offered
with calculator sections.  I plan to take a calculator section of linear
algebra next semester.
     As for the cost, it is fairly small when compared with all of the
other costs of attending college - some of my books cost more than $60.
And I use my calculator every day, and in most of my classes.
     What some teachers have done is to give one section of a test
without the use of the calculators, and then another section with the
calculator.  This promotes both learning and application.

                                          John Shea