Get up-to-speed on the functionality of your TI-84 Plus calculator
Completely revised to cover the latest updates to the TI-84 Plus calculators, this bestselling guide will help you become the most savvy TI-84 Plus user in the classroom! Exploring the standard device, the updated device with USB plug and upgraded memory (the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition), and the upcoming color screen device, this book provides you with clear, understandable coverage of the TI-84's updated operating system.
- Details the new apps that are available for download to the calculator via the USB cable
- Walks you through menus and basic arithmetic
- Addresses graphing and analyzing functions as well as probability and statistics functions
- Explains how to use the calculator for geometry
- Reviews communicating with PCs and other calculators
TI-84 Plus Graphic Calculator For Dummies, 2nd Edition is the perfect solution for getting comfortable with the new line of TI-84 calculators!
Table of Contents:
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Conventions Used in This Book 2
What You’re Not to Read 2
Foolish Assumptions 3
How This Book Is Organized 3
Part I: Making Friends with the Calculator 3
Part II: Taking Your Calculator Relationship to the Next Level 3
Part III: Graphing and Analyzing Functions 4
Part IV: Working with Probability and Statistics 4
Part V: Doing More with Your Calculator 4
Part VI: The Part of Tens 4
Icons Used in This Book 5
Where to Go from Here 5
Part I: Making Friends with the Calculator 7
Chapter 1: Starting with the Basics 9
Why Didn’t I Think of That? 10
Charging the Battery 11
Turning the Calculator On and Off 12
Using the Keyboard 13
Accessing the functions in blue 13
Using the ALPHA key to write words 14
Using the ENTER key 14
Using the X,T,Θ,n key 15
Using the arrow keys 15
Keys to remember 15
What Is the Home Screen? 15
The Busy Indicator 16
Editing Entries 16
Copying and Pasting 17
Using Menus 18
Accessing a menu 18
Scrolling a menu 18
Selecting menu items 19
Setting the Mode 19
MathPrint mode versus Classic mode 20
Using the Catalog 23
Chapter 2: Doing Basic Arithmetic 25
Entering and Evaluating Expressions 25
Using Exponents and Roots 27
Working in Scientific Notation 28
Getting Familiar with Important Keys 29
Following the Order of Operations 30
Using the Previous Answer 31
Storing Variables 32
Combining Expressions 33
Chapter 3: Dealing with Fractions 35
Setting the Mode 35
Converting Fractions and Decimals 36
Accessing Shortcut Menus 37
Entering Fractions and Mixed Numbers 38
Entering Complex Numbers in Fractions 39
Entering Complex Fractions 39
Chapter 4: Solving Equations 41
Using the Equation Solver 41
Step 1: Enter or edit the equation to be solved 42
Step 2: Guess a solution 43
Step 3: Solve the equation 43
Assigning Values to Variables 44
Finding Multiple Solutions 45
Making strategic guesses 45
Defining the solution bounds 46
Using the Solve Function 47
Discovering the PlySmlt2 App 48
Finding the roots of a polynomial 48
Solving systems of equations 49
Part II: Taking Your Calculator Relationship to the Next Level 51
Chapter 5: Working with Complex Numbers 53
Setting the Mode 53
Entering Complex Numbers 54
Interpreting Strange-looking Results 55
Using the CMPLX menu 56
Finding the conjugate of a complex number 56
Finding the real and imaginary parts of a complex number 56
Finding the polar angle of a complex number 57
Finding the magnitude (modulus) of a complex number 57
Displaying a complex result in polar or rectangular form 58
Chapter 6: Understanding the Math Menu and Submenus 59
Getting to Know the Math Menu and Submenus 59
Accessing Catalog Help from the Math Menu 60
The Math MATH Submenu 61
Converting between decimals and fractions 61
Cubing and taking cube roots 62
Taking the xth root 62
Finding the location of maximum and minimum values 63
Using numerical differentiation and integration templates 63
Using summation and logarithm templates 64
The Math NUM Submenu 65
Finding the absolute value 65
Rounding numbers 65
Finding the integer and fractional parts of a value 65
Using the greatest-integer function 66
Finding minimum and maximum values in a list of numbers 66
Finding the least common multiple and greatest common divisor 67
Finding the remainder 67
Chapter 7: The Angle and Test Menus 69
The Angle Menu 69
Converting degrees to radians 70
Converting radians to degrees 71
Converting between degrees and DMS 71
Entering angles in DMS measure 72
Overriding the mode of the angle 72
Converting rectangular and polar coordinates 73
The Test Menu 73
Understanding Boolean logic 74
Comparing numbers 74
Testing equivalent expressions 75
Using Logic commands 75
Chapter 8: Creating and Editing Matrices 77
Entering Matrices 77
Storing a Matrix 78
Matrix Arithmetic 79
Evaluating the Determinant and Other Matrix Operations 81
Solving a System of Equations 83
A–1*B method 83
Augmenting matrices method 85
Part III: Graphing and Analyzing Functions 89
Chapter 9: Graphing Functions 91
Entering Functions 91
Formatting Your Graph 93
Graphing Functions 96
Turning off Stat Plots (if necessary) 96
Selecting and deselecting a function 97
Adjusting the graph window 97
Stopping or pausing your graph 99
Adjusting Your Color/Line Settings 100
Graphing Families of Functions 102
Graphing Piecewise Functions 102
Graphing Trig Functions 104
Viewing the Function and Graph on the Same Screen 105
Saving and Recalling a Graph 106
Chapter 10: Exploring Functions 109
Tracing a Graph 109
Changing the TraceStep 111
Moving the Trace cursor to any x-value in the graphing window 111
Using Zoom Commands 112
Storing and recalling your favorite graphing window 117
Displaying Functions in a Table 117
Automatically generated table 118
User-generated table 119
Editing a function in a table 120
Clearing a Table 121
Viewing the Table and the Graph on the Same Screen 122
Chapter 11: Evaluating Functions 125
Finding the Value of a Function 125
Using your graph to find the value of a function 126
Using your calculator to find the value of a function 127
Composing Functions 128
Using your graph to compose functions 128
Using your calculator to compose functions 129
Finding the Zeros of a Function 130
Finding Min and Max 131
Finding Points of Intersection 132
Finding the Slope of a Curve 133
Evaluating a Definite Integral 135
Graphing Derivative to Find Critical Points 136
Solving Equations by Graphing 137
Drawing the Inverse of a Function 138
Chapter 12: Graphing Inequalities 141
Graphing One-Variable Inequalities 141
Starting Inequality Graphing 143
Entering Functions and Inequalities 144
Entering inequalities in the Y= editor 144
Changing the color of inequalities 145
Entering inequalities in the X= editor 145
Graphing Inequalities 146
Exploring a Graph 147
Shading unions and intersections 148
Finding the points of intersection 148
Other ways to explore a graph 151
Storing Data Points 151
Clearing the INEQX and INEQY lists 151
Storing points in INEQX and INEQY 152
Viewing stored data 152
Solving Linear Programming Problems 153
Quitting Inequality Graphing 155
Chapter 13: Graphing Parametric Equations 157
Changing the Mode 157
Selecting the Graph Style 158
Entering Parametric Equations 159
Setting the Window 160
Graphing Parametric Equations 161
Using Zoom to Change the Window 161
Using Trace to Evaluate a Parametric Equation 162
Viewing the Table of a Parametric Graph 163
Taking the Derivative of Parametric Equations 164
Chapter 14: Graphing Polar Equations 165
Changing the Mode 166
Selecting the Graph Style 166
Entering Polar Equations 167
Setting the Window 168
Graphing Polar Equations 169
Using Zoom to Change the Window 170
Using Trace to Evaluate a Polar Equation 170
Viewing the Table of a Polar Graph 171
Taking the Derivative of Polar Equations 172
Chapter 15: Graphing Sequences 175
Changing the Mode 175
Selecting the Color 176
Entering Sequences 177
Setting the Window 178
Graphing Sequences 180
Using Trace to Evaluate a Sequence Equation 180
Viewing the Table of a Sequence Graph 181
Graphing a Recursive Sequence 182
Graphing the Fibonacci sequence 183
Graphing a Web Plot 183
Graphing a Phase Plot 185
Graphing Partial Sums of an Infinite Series 186
Part IV: Working with Probability and Statistics 187
Chapter 16: Probability 189
Evaluating Factorials 189
Permutations and Combinations 190
Using the Binomial theorem 191
Generating Random Numbers 192
Generating random integers 192
Generating random integers with no repetition 193
Generating random decimals 194
Seeding the random number generator 194
Chapter 17: Dealing with Statistical Data 197
Entering Data 197
Deleting and Editing Data 199
Inserting Data Lists 200
Using Formulas to Enter Data 201
Copying and Recalling Data Lists 202
Sorting Data Lists 204
Sorting data lists while keeping the rows intact 205
Chapter 18: Analyzing Statistical Data 207
Plotting One-Variable Data 207
Constructing a histogram 208
Adjusting the class size of a histogram 210
Constructing a box plot 211
Plotting Two-Variable Data 211
Tracing Statistical Data Plots 212
Analyzing Statistical Data 213
One-variable data analysis 214
Two-variable data analysis 215
Performing regressions 216
Graphing a regression model 218
Graphing a residual plot 219
Using Manual-Fit 219
Using statistics commands on the Home screen 221
Part V: Doing More with Your Calculator 223
Chapter 19: Using the TVM Solver 225
Calculating Mortgages and Loans 225
Step 1. Access the TVM Solver 226
Step 2. Enter values for five of the six TVM variables 226
Step 3. Solve for the missing TVM variable 228
Making Compound Interest Work for You 229
Step 1. Access the TVM Solver 229
Step 2. Enter values for five of the six TVM variables 229
Step 3. Solve for the missing TVM variable 230
Chapter 20: Communicating with a PC Using TI Connect Software 231
Downloading TI Connect 231
Installing and Running TI Connect 232
Connecting Calculator and PC 233
Transferring Files 234
Using Device Explorer to transfer files from calculator to computer 234
Using Send to TI Device to transfer files from computer to calculator 235
Using the Backup and Restore Tools 236
Upgrading the OS 237
Chapter 21: Communicating Between Calculators 239
Linking Calculators 239
Transferring Files 240
Transferring Files to Several Calculators 242
Chapter 22: Fun with Images 245
Inserting Photo Images as a Background of a Graph 245
Using TI Connect Software to Transfer Images 246
Unit-to-Unit Image Transfer 247
Using Quick Plot & Fit Equation 248
Chapter 23: Managing Memory 251
Checking Available Memory 251
Deleting and Archiving to Preserve Memory 252
Resetting the Calculator 253
Grouping and Ungrouping Programs 254
Garbage Collecting 256
Part VI: The Part of Tens 257
Chapter 24: Ten Essential Skills 259
Copying and Pasting 259
Converting a Decimal to a Fraction 259
Changing the Mode 260
Accessing Hidden Menus 260
Entering Imaginary Numbers 260
Storing a variable 260
Graphing a Function 261
Finding the Intersection Point 261
Graphing a Scatter Plot 262
Performing a Linear Regression 262
Chapter 25: Ten Common Errors 263
Using - Instead of (˗) to Indicate That a Number Is Negative 263
Indicating the Order of Operations Incorrectly by Using Parentheses 263
Improperly Entering the Argument for Menu Functions 264
Accidentally Deleting a List 264
Entering an Angle in Degrees in Radian Mode 265
Graphing Trigonometric Functions in Degree Mode 265
Graphing Functions When Stat Plots Are Active 266
Inadequately Setting the Display Contrast 266
Setting the Window Inappropriately for Graphing 266
Accidentally Deactivating a Function 267
Chapter 26: Ten Common Error Messages 269
Argument 269
Bad Guess 269
Dimension Mismatch 270
Domain 270
Invalid 270
Invalid Dimension 270
No Sign Change 271
Singular Matrix 271
Syntax 271
Window Range 271
Troubleshooting a Calculator that is Not Functioning Properly 271
Appendix A: Creating Calculator Programs 273
Creating and saving a program on the calculator 273
Editing a program on the calculator 275
Executing a Calculator Program 275
Deleting a Program from the Calculator 276
Appendix B: Controlling Program Input and Output 277
Using Input Commands 278
Using the Input command 278
Using the Prompt command 279
Using Output Commands 280
Using a program to write text 280
Using the Disp command 281
Using the Output command 282
Using a Program to Display a Graph 282
Changing the Color and Graph Style of a Function 283
Changing the Color of Text on a Graph 284
Housekeeping Issues 285
Appendix C: Controlling Program Flow 287
Entering Control Commands in a Program 287
Using Decision Commands 288
The If command 288
The If . . . Then . . . End Command 289
The If . . . Then . . . Else End Command 289
Using Looping Commands 290
The While . . . End command 290
The Repeat . . . End Command 291
The For . . . End Command 292
Using Branching Commands 292
Using the Goto command 293
Creating a menu 294
Stopping a Program 296
Pausing a Program 296
Executing an External Program as a Subroutine 297
Index 299
About the Author :
Jeff McCalla is a mathematics teacher at St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis, TN. He cofounded the TI-Nspire SuperUser group, and received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science & Mathematics Teaching.
C.C. Edwards is an educator who has presented numerous workshops on using TI calculators.
