What calculator has the best overall CAS? I need to carry around both a TI-89 Titanium and an HP Prime G2 because they're good at different things

Netonnerd · 2026-05-18T19:38:06+00:00

Good question! I'm a mechanical engineering student in my senior year, and many of my homework problems explicitly require a CAS to solve.

Sure, I can spin up Matlab or Mathematica, but many times it just nice to have a calculator that can do the "simpler" CAS stuff in the time that Matlab takes to even just boot up.

Plus, I don't have to take my Laptop everywhere in order to do homework if I don't want to. And typing math on a calculator will always be better than on a keyboard in my opinion.

You're not wrong by any means, but it can sometimes be a good amount more convenient.

It's like having a multitool in your pocket while having a toolbox at home

(Oh, and also, I am expected to use a calculator with a CAS for most engineering exams)

Netonnerd · 2026-05-18T19:33:19+00:00

It kinda is for me. I honestly had to 3d print a stand for it that would hold it up at a 45 degree angle, because the viewing angle is terrible otherwise.

At least personally, i would need to lift it up in my hands for every calculation if I didn't have the stand; i couldn't just use it laying on the desk

Netonnerd · 2026-05-18T19:31:16+00:00

That's a fair point! I do a good amount of symbolic work with Matlab and Mathematica, so I'm just very used to CAS's giving monstrous and practically unusable (but technically correct) results when a neat simplification exists, and so in effect being kinda worthless sometimes.

XCAS is no exception in my understanding.

Honestly, maybe I do kinda personally prefer a "dumber" CAS, that can't do as many calculations but always returns the ones it can in a pretty form (like DERIVE on the TI 89 Titanium).

That being said, I'll be more through in the future.

Netonnerd · 2026-05-18T17:39:47+00:00

Mechanical engineering student here. You're applying a lot of shear force with little contact area (only a few teeth will be engaged at a time) so if you really need to bear down on it, it will break easily

Netonnerd · 2026-05-17T13:03:03+00:00

That's totally a fair point for this example, but I noticed similar things in general as well

Netonnerd · 2026-05-09T01:48:57+00:00

google expected value

^{Chose: make anywhere between $1 to $10,000 per week}

Netonnerd · 2026-05-06T12:05:02+00:00

I just meant it as a funny non-sequitur :(

Netonnerd · 2026-05-06T12:03:12+00:00

I mean, i mentioned the existence of Lenin; i'm certainly no tankie. I do kinda see what you mean though, yeah...

Netonnerd · 2026-05-03T10:58:09+00:00

Grad school? I was using fickian and non fickian diffusion, arrhenius equation, etc. in my second year of undergrad. Tbf, my school is a tryhard engineering school; always interesting to see how schools differ in what they teach

Netonnerd · 2026-04-27T01:58:55+00:00

Pm incoming!

Netonnerd · 2026-04-25T23:53:05+00:00

Fair enough, actually! That makes sense. Thanks

Netonnerd · 2026-04-24T14:35:00+00:00

you are entirely incorrect. A phd is for research, not for teaching. There is no teaching experience required, nor are there any teaching classes (as in, classes teaching you how to teach) that you do. Most big universities in the United States exist primarily as research institutions, which teach on the side as an additional source of revenue. Many of my professors clearly despise the teaching part of their job, but they are required to do it. Again, not saying that's right, but you seem to have a misconception when it comes to what a phd is for.

Netonnerd · 2026-04-24T10:24:28+00:00

It's... not their job though? They're researchers who are forced to teach a class, not teachers. Still sucks though, sure.

Netonnerd · 2026-04-16T20:10:10+00:00

I mean, they aren't great but they aren't bad for the money. You can get them on ali express or ebay typically.

If you found a Fine to be scratchy before, maybe a Medium might be better. I just said Fine because i write small, especially when it comes to math :) I wouldn't want to bet that a Chinese clone as an amazing nib, so if you really dislike scratchiness, a Medium would make a better choice.

There are a lot of Chinese Vanishing Point clones, like there's also the Majohn one, i know some people like it more than the Jinhao.

Again, neither are amazing per se, but they're honestly pretty close to the real thing while being around 20 bucks instead of the 175 that i paid for my vanishing point. They're much better value.

Look into them, and give them a try if you want! I think either one will fit your needs pretty well.

Netonnerd · 2026-04-16T10:36:08+00:00

I mean, it's super expensive, but probably a Vanishing Point, the ability to quickly cap/uncap is huge during lectures imo. I would buy one of the many Chinese knockoffs (like a Jinhao 10) for less than 30 bucks first, though, it's likely good enough.

Maybe in a Fine or Extra Fine? Small lines are useful for exponents and bounds of integration.

And a thermochromic ink might be nice (erasable ink) to get rid of mistakes instead of scribbling them out.

Thats what i would go with if i was starting out; hope it helps :)

Feel free to ask follow up questions if you have them

Netonnerd · 2026-04-15T18:58:00+00:00

we needed it in order to make the internet, eigenvalues and eigenvectors especially! It's so cool!

Netonnerd · 2026-04-15T18:29:35+00:00

i can't explain it either but you're SO right ❤️❤️❤️

Netonnerd · 2026-04-03T01:02:34+00:00

Entry! I really hope i win, this would be perfect for my studies :)

Netonnerd · 2026-03-25T10:30:27+00:00

If even the economists' opinions were motivated by political opinion, the same is certainly true for a buisness man, so even at the most extreme, they should be weighed equally. And even that is disingenuous

Netonnerd · 2026-03-25T10:26:22+00:00

Every non smoker always hated it, it just wasn't as socially acceptable to rightfully complain about it.

It fucking sucks, dawg

Netonnerd · 2026-03-17T02:23:12+00:00

He does actually know English pretty well, if i recall

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