Will they let me use a calculator in college?

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I think the opposite. What's the point of trig/calculus/algebra in the real world? Arithmetic has more use. I'm not against teaching people the new math, but I certainly don't privilege it over useful arithmetic skills.




It's hard enough getting through life without deciding to give up trying when you've barely begun.

Lots. This post is being brought to you on your computer that uses reactive components whose behavior is described by calculus, powered by AC current whose phase and amplitude is described by trig functions. This stuff is even a legitimate use of imaginary numbers that we've all scoffed at in the past. They are essential in electronics and power systems.

As for calculators, it really depends on the course and the professor's discretion. I've had math classes that only allow a 4-function calculator, when the concepts need to be learned by hand. My higher level classes allow even a TI-89 to assist you, but they still require you to show that you know what you're doing.

Hmm, I should be clearer. The use of it to an individual knowing it.

I am doing 2 maths, 2 physics, a physics lab, and a physical chemistry course this semester.
for physics you need a calculator, same with chemistry. the lab course used calculators but it doesn't have an exam.
the two maths courses I am doing, one of them is Calculus, and i can NOT use a calculator in this one. the other maths course is cryptography, and I am allowed to use a calculator, because it sometimes involves reasonably large numbers.

I think all calculus courses won't allow calculators, because those courses are focusing on the mathematical concepts, as opposed to physics where you actually use these concepts with real numbers.

You can probably get past MCAT papers. If you can, then you should coz all the cheeky NTs will be. They probably don't change the questions much. Do you have a good maths text book to learn from?

I simply cannot memorize the multiplication tables and that's why I need a calculator. I can't do simple arethmitic without using my fingers.

What's that supposed to mean?

Why not just do the multiplication on scrap paper in the test using addition? Say you had to multiply 12x8, let a circle equal 5, write two circles and then two ones, so; OOII, so that equals 12. Then just write a column of them underneath 8 times, then you just add up the circles quickly by going, "5, 10, 15, 20 etc" and write down the answer, then add up all the ones, then add those two numbers.

I don't even understand what you just said.

That giving up before you try will make life a lot harder.

Depending on the college course, you may need a graphing calculator instead of a scientific one. It's kind of hard to cheat with graphing in some cases because you may not know what question will be on the test exactly. It will be a tool at your disposal!

Regardless of whether you can get into veterinary school without a calculator, the chances are quite good that as a vet, you will be required to use basic arithmetic at times when a calculator is not convenient. This is a serious skill deficiency that will need to be addressed before you attempt veterinary school.

Where I go to University, in Canada, you are allowed scientific calculators in all of the math based classes (physics, chemistry, electronics - I'm an electrical engineer) but are not allowed ANY calculators in Calculus (or classes offered by the Math department). I had to do all my trigonometry by hand (finding angles in radians by hand is ... not awesome). However you may be able to get some leeway in that regard from Student Services (or whatever you call it). I know here, you can get other students to take notes for you if you qualify, we probably have similar policies for calculators or test extensions.

Good luck.

For the MCAT physical science section, you're going to need to memorize formulas (and know when to apply them) in order to do some of the problems. That's harder than having to do the simple math. Calculators are not allowed in the MCAT testing room. Sorry

But if you have trouble memorizing multiplication tables, it's going to be really hard to do calculus or stats (or any other college level math class you can use to knock out a requirement). You'll also probably suffer in physics, because most universities/cc's only have calc based physics for pre-med/pre-vet/pre-dent etc. Calculus based physics isn't require but basically it's hard to find an algebra based physics course that you can actually use to knock out one of the requirements. Good luck, and don't give up yet! You just need to try a lot of methods to figure out what works for you.

P.S. Remember that you don't need to be a science major to get into vet school. Use that to your advantage if you're not great at math. Just kick butt in the pre-req classes, and you'll be good.