Best way to handle complex graphing problems without a physical calculator?

[ryanmitchell]

Hi everyone,


I’ve been working through some advanced math problems lately, especially involving graphing functions and solving equations, and I realized how much I rely on a calculator. The problem is, I don’t always have access to a physical one like a TI-84.


I’m curious—how do you usually handle graphing and calculations when you don’t have your calculator with you? Do you prefer doing everything manually, or do you use any reliable online tools?


Personally, I’ve been trying a few browser-based options, but I’m still figuring out what works best.


Would love to hear your suggestions or workflows!

 

[fresh_42]

I use WolframAlpha most of the time:

Wolfram|Alpha: Making the world’s knowledge computable

Wolfram|Alpha brings expert-level knowledge and capabilities to the broadest possible range of people—spanning all professions and education levels.

www.wolframalpha.com

or look up a more suitable one, just in case:

List of Online Calculators for Math, Physics, Earth and Other Curiosities

I've reviewed my bookmarks and found some helpful online tools. Please report broken links to a moderator. Additional - serious and not-so-serious ones - should be added here, so please get in touch with a moderator. Links checked: 08/11/25 Latest Update: 08/11/25 (Meme Maker, Universal...

www.physicsforums.com

In pre-Internet times, I took the function, determined the domain and codomain, differentiated it three times, computed the zeros of the derivatives, and calculated its asymptotic behaviour. That normally gets you pretty close to the actual graph of a (one-dimensional) function.

 

[khansaheb]

but I’m still figuring out what works best.

That is correct but it is time-consuming for a bit complicated function.

 

[Dr.Peterson]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been working through some advanced math problems lately, especially involving graphing functions and solving equations, and I realized how much I rely on a calculator. The problem is, I don’t always have access to a physical one like a TI-84.

I’m curious—how do you usually handle graphing and calculations when you don’t have your calculator with you? Do you prefer doing everything manually, or do you use any reliable online tools?

Personally, I’ve been trying a few browser-based options, but I’m still figuring out what works best.

Would love to hear your suggestions or workflows!

It depends on your goal. If all you want is to see the graph, then Desmos is often enough. If you want to get a feel for how equations work, then more hands-on work might be worthwhile. I'd never use a TI-84, because it's too small and restrictive. But it might be perfect for whatever you are doing.

What works best, generally, is what you have available when you need it, and what does the task you need to do.