Best Calculator for Course 3

[Eeyore]

Candidates may use the battery- or solar-powered models of the following Texas Instruments calculators: BA-35 (the official CAS/SoA calculator), BA II Plus, TI-30X, TI-30Xa, or TI-30X II (IIS solar or IIB battery).

the BA-35 was essential for Course 2 Int. Theory IMO
Is Course 3 similar in that a particular calculator will make the q's easier?

[FSA_Wannabe]

I always take 2 calculators BA-35 and TI-30II... I use the BA-35 for financial functions only (since the TI-30 has mathematical hierarchy logic but the BA-35 does not). As far as C3 goes... I don't recall using the BA-35 even one time this sitting.

[Avi]

Personally, I like the BAII-Plus over the BA-35S, but it is more confusing to learn. All that I've studied so far in Exam3 leads me to believe that the 30XIIS should be enough; unless we can get the IIplus or 35-S to do mortality discounting as well :)

[VernSchil]

Do any of the approved calculators have linear equation solvers? I know finding the steady states of a markov chain can be a real pain without one. If there are N states, you have to solve N+1 linear equations with N variables. I haven't started studying yet so I don't know if the SOA will ask these kinds of questions. If the chain is big enough they can take forever to solve by hand.

[Avi]

None of the approved have that option. I think Row reduction ala Linear algebra (Gauss-Jordan??) would be quicker on the exam than substitution.

[Bama Gambler]

Do any of the approved calculators have linear equation solvers? I know finding the steady states of a markov chain can be a real pain without one. If there are N states, you have to solve N+1 linear equations with N variables. I haven't started studying yet so I don't know if the SOA will ask these kinds of questions. If the chain is big enough they can take forever to solve by hand.

On all the recent exams, you can solve these systems fast. That is if you take a second to choose which equations to use. Don't forget you have to include the P(State1) + P(State2) + .... + P(StateN) = 1 in your choice of equations.