Calculator Skills - Texas Instruments

TEXAS*®
1 Useful hints
Setting the angle mode
When you reset your calculator (or change batteries) the default angle mode is radians.
If you are working in degrees you will need to change this
How you do it...
Notes You should press You will see

To get to the correct menu 
To select degree mode 



Redoing calculations
If you made a mistake with the last line you typed in, press the ENTRY key ().
The previous line is then returned and you can edit it before pressing  again.
You can press ENTRY several times to go back several calculations.
Storing answers
The calculator can store numbers in its memory and use them in later calculations.
For example, to store log 2 and use it in a calculation later:
How you do it...

Perform the calculation 
Store in the variable ‘A’ 
(A)

To use this in calculating 

1 ( log 2) (A)
3

*These instructions were written based on the TEXAS model T1-84 Plus Silver Edition and might not be
true for other models. If in doubt, consult your calculator’s manual.
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculator skills:1 Useful hints 1
Working with fractions
Fractions have to be entered using the division sign and the plus sign.
2 2
For example, is entered as    and 4 as     .
3 3
You can change the result of a calculation into a fraction and back into a decimal.
How you do it...

Perform the calculation 

Convert the answer into a 
fraction (>Frac)

Convert back to a decimal 
(>Dec)

Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculator skills:1 Useful hints 2
TEXAS*®
2 Viewing graphs
Inputting a function
You will need... In our example...

• A function in the form y f (x ) • y x3 − x
How you do it...

To get to the correct menu 
Enter the function 

Display the graph 
Setting which part of the graph you see
Whilst viewing the graph it is possible to zoom in and out (using the  menu) but it is often a
better idea to explicitly select the viewing window using the menu.
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculater skills: 2 Viewing graphs 1
TEXAS*®
3 Finding some important functions
⎛ n⎞
Finding ⎜ ⎟
⎝ r⎠
⎛ 7⎞
For example: to find ⎜ ⎟ .
⎝ 3⎠
How you do it...

Enter the calculation 



(PRB)
(nCr)


Finding x!
For example: to find 9!
How you do it...

Enter the calculation 



(PRB)
(!)

Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculater skills: 3 Finding some important functions 1
Finding | |
For example: to find | |.
How you do it...

Enter the calculation 
(NUM)
(abs)




n
Finding x
For example: to find 4 16 .
How you do it...

Enter the calculation 

( x )


Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculater skills: 3 Finding some important functions 2
TEXAS*®
4 Analysing graphs
• A graph to analyse (see Calculator skills 2 for details
of how to input this) • y x3 − x
• An x-value where you want to know the y-value • x=2
• A y-value where you want to know the x-value • y=0
• Which type of turning point you are interested in • A maximum point
How to find coordinates of a point given an x-value
How you do it...

When viewing a graph (CALC)
(See Calculator skills 2 ‘Viewing (value)
graphs’ if required)
Input the required x-value 


What to write down...

When x = 2, y = 6 (from GDC).
How to find coordinates of the points where y = 0 (zeros or roots)
How you do it...

(See Calculator skills 2 (zero)
‘Viewing graphs’ if required)
Move the cursor to the left of  

the required root, or enter a 
value below the required root
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculater skills: 4 Analysing graphs 1
Move the cursor to the right   
of the required root, or enter a 
value above the required root
Repeat for other roots if

required

When y = 0, x = −1, 0,1 (from GDC).
y = x3 − x
x
−1 1
How to find the coordinates of a turning point
How you do it...

(See Calculator skills 2 (Maximum)
‘Viewing graphs’ if required)
Take the cursor to the left of 

the required turning point, or 
enter a value below it 
Take the cursor to the right of 
the turning point, or enter a 
value above it 
Repeat for other turning points

if required
If you want to find minimum points, use 3:minimum instead.

Maximum occurs when ( –0.577, 0.385) (3SF from GDC).
y
(−0.577, 0.385)
y = x3 − x
TEXAS*®
5 Solving equations
Graphical solutions of equations
• An equation to solve • ex = 2 − x 2
If you are trying to solve the equation f ( x ) = g (x ) plot the graphs Y f (x ) and Y g(x ) .
The solution to the original equation is the x-coordinate of the intersection of these two graphs.
How you do it...

Go to the graphing menu 
Put the left hand side into Y1 

Put the right hand side into Y2 

Draw the graphs and look for 

intersections (CALC)
(intersect)
If there is more than one graph, 

use  to move to the correct 
graph.

If there is more than one
intersection, move cursor closer
to the required one.
y

From GDC x = 0.537 or x = −1 32 (3SF).
y = ex
x
−1.32 0.537
2
y = 2−x
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculator skills: 5 Solving equations 1
Numerical solutions of equations
• An equation to solve, rearranged so that one side is zero • ex − 2 + x 2 = 0
• An initial guess • x=0
The equation to be solved has to be rearranged so that one side is zero. This method starts from a ‘guess’ of the
solution (which does not need to be particularly accurate) and it finds a single solution, usually the one closest
to the guess. To find other solutions, other initial values must be tried.
How you do it...

Go to the equation solver 
and input the non-zero (Solver)
side of the equation





Enter the initial guess. You 
can also set the bounds, 
but leaving them as

−1 × 1099 and 1 1099 is
fine 
Move the cursor to the line 

with the guess and press 
SOLVE
(Solve)
If a solution has been found the bottom line will say left−rt=0; if it doesn’t it means that the
calculator failed to find a solution within given bounds. You could try changing the initial guess or
the bounds, but it is also possible that the equation has no solutions.

From GDC x = 0.537 (3SF) is one solution to the equation.
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculator skills: 5 Solving equations 2
TEXAS*®
6 Solving polynomial and
simultaneous equations
Solutions of polynomial equations

• A polynomial equation in standard form • x3 3x 2 4 x + 12 = 0
• The degree of the polynomial • 3 (cubic)
How you do it...
Go to PolySmlt 2  (↓ PlySmlt2)
(APPLICATIONS) (POLY ROOT FINDER)
And select polynomial solver
(POLY ROOT FINDER)
Input the degree of the polynomial 


Input the coefficients 







Solve the equation (SOLVE)

From GDC x = –2, 2 or 3.
Storing the equation or the answers

You can store the coefficients ( ) or the solutions ( ) in a list (select list name when
prompted, for example  for List1, and you can also store the polynomial ( ) as an
equation in a Y-variable for graphing.
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculater skills: 6 Solving polynomial... 1
Solving linear simultaneous equations

• Simultaneous equations with all the unknowns on one side • x + 2 y = 10
• 2 x 3 y = 13
• The number of unknown variables • 2
How you do it...

Go to PolySmlt APP (you may (PolySmlt)
need to press  several times) 
And select simultaneous equation 
solver 

(2:SIMULT EQN SOLVER)

Enter the number of equations and 
number of unknown variables 


Input all the coefficients 











Solve (SOLVE)
From GDC x = 8 and y = 1.
Again, you can store the coefficients in a matrix ( ) and the solution in a list ( ).
Non-linear simultaneous equations
To solve two non-linear simultaneous equations we rearrange both equations into the form
(x ) and then plot the graphs and find where they intersect as described in Calculator skills 5.
However, remember that now you need to give both the x- and the y-coordinates.
TEXAS*®
7 Functions
Sketching graphs of composite functions
• an inner function • f ( x ) = x2 + 3
• an outer function • g ( x ) = 4x + 2
This will sketch the graph of g ( f ( x ) ) 4 ( x + ) + 2.
How you do it...

Put the inner function 
into Y1 

Put the outer function 
into Y2 using Y1 as the 
argument.
 (Y-VARS)
(Function)
(Y1)


Unselect Y1 so it is not 
displayed 


Draw the graph 
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculater skills: 7 Functions 1
Sketching inverse functions
You will need... In our example
• The function which you would like to invert • x2 − 1
Note that this sketches the inverse relation.
How you do it...

Put the function into Y1 

Change the line style 
so that the the original 
function is thicker by
moving the left cursor to
the line \ to the left of Y1.
Draw the function and (DRAW)
sketch the inverse function (DrawInv)

(Y-VARS)
(Function)
(Y1)

You may find that the choice of scale makes the function look less like a reflection than it should.
 (ZSqure) sets the axes to the same scale, which can be useful when looking at inverse
functions.
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculater skills: 7 Functions 2
TEXAS*®
8 Complex numbers
Doing complex arithmetic
3+i
• A calculation to perform • .
1 3i
How you do it...

To change to complex mode 






(a+bi)

( i is found using ) (QUIT)
(i)

(i)


3+i
From GDC: = 0.6 − 0.8i .
1 3i
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculator skills: 8 Complex numbers 1
Finding the modulus and argument of complex numbers
• A complex number • −3 − 5i.
How you do it...

(Make sure your calculator is in 
radians, see Calculator skills 1 if 
required).
(CPX)
Access the CPX menu
The modulus is called ‘abs’ (abs)



(i)


To find the argument follow a (QUIT)
similar procedure. The argument 
is called ‘angle’.
(CPX)
(angle)


(i)


From GDC: −3 − 5i = 5.83, g ( −3 − 5i ) = −2.11 (3SF).
Doing calculations in modulus-argument form
3e1 6i
• A calculation to perform • .
2e 0 5 i
How you do it...

(Make sure your calculator 
is in radians, see Calculator 
skills 1 if required)

To change to modulus- 
argument mode




(re ^ θ i)

(QUIT)
Enter the calculation (e^x)
(i)


(e^x)

(i) 


3e1 6i
From GDC: 0 5i = 1 5e1.1i .
2e
Converting the answer to Cartesian form
• The answer from a previous calculation • 1 5e1.1i
How you do it...
Notes You should You will see

press
Use previous answer (ANS)
Choose correct option from 
CPX menu 
(CPX)
(>Rect)

Move cursor right to see the 
whole answer 


From GDC: 1.55e1.1i . (3SF) .
0.680 1.34
You can also convert back to the modulus-argument form by using option 7(>Polar).
TEXAS*®
9 Differentiation
Finding the gradient of a tangent at a point

• The equation of a curve • y x sin x
• The x-coordinate of the point of interest • x=2
How you do it...

Access the MATH  (nDeriv)
menu and select 
‘nDeriv’ option
Use the syntax: 
nDeriv(function, 
X,x-value)









Gradient of y x sin x when x = 2 is 0.0770 (3 SF) (From GDC).
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculater skills: 9 Differentiation 1
Finding the equation of the tangent at a point

How you do it...

Sketch the curve, making sure that See Calculator skills 2
the viewing window includes the ‘Viewing graphs’
point of interest
From the DRAW menu, select (DRAW)

Tangent and type in the x-value (Tangent)



From GDC, the equation of the tangent to y x sin x at x = 2 is y 0 770 x + 1.66 .
Sketching the derivative function

• A function • y x sin x
How you do it...

Access the Y= menu 
Follow the process 
above with the x  (nDeriv)
value replaced by the

variable X








Sketch the graph 
Finding the value of the second derivative at a point

How you do it...

Access the MATH menu and 
select 'nDeriv' option (nDeriv)
Use nDeriv with the 

derivative as the function: (nDeriv)
nDeriv(nDeriv(function,X,X), 
X,x-value) 














From GDC : for f x ) = x sin x, f ′′ ( ) = −2.65(3 SF) .
TEXAS*®
10 Integration
Finding a definite integral
• A function to integrate • e x2
• The limits of the integral • x = 0 to x = 1
How you do it...

Go to MATH menu and (↓fnInt)
select the fnInt option
Use syntax: (e^x)
fnInt(function,X,lower_ 
limit,upper_limit) 




You can also find the area under a graph when plotting it using
(CALC)( ∫ f ( x ) dx )
and typing in the limits. This has the advantage that the associated area is shaded on the graph.

1
∫e
0
x2
dx 1 46 (3SF ffrom GDC).
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculater skills: 10 Integration 1
TEXAS*®
11 Working with lists
Entering numbers into lists

• Numbers to enter into the list • 1, 3, 5, 8
• The name of the list you want to use • L1
How you do it...

Clear the list of any (ClrList)
previous content (L1)

Go to the correct list  (Edit)

Enter the numbers 




...
Create new list from an old list

• A list of numbers • L1
• The rule to generate new numbers • y xi2
• A list to store new numbers • L2
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculater skills: 11 Working with lists 1
How you do it...

Perform the (L1)
calculation and store 
numbers in the list 
(L2)

View the lists (Edit)
Performing calculations with a single list

• A list of numbers • L1
• The operation to perform • add all numbers
How you do it...

To get to the correct (LIST)
menu 
(MATH)
Select ‘sum’ and the (sum)

required list (L1)



From GDC, ∑xi = 17.
You can use the same menu to find the mean, median, standard deviation and variance of the
numbers in the list, as an alternative to using the STAT menu (see 12 Calculator skills ‘Descriptive
statistics’).
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculater skills: 11 Working with lists 2
TEXAS*®
12 Descriptive statistics
Finding statistics from a list

• A list of data values • In List L1: 1, 3, 12, 20
• (Optional) a list of data frequencies • In List L2: 21, 28, 14, 8
How you do it...

Go to the STAT menu and enter See Calculator skills 11
the lists
Return to the main screen and (QUIT)

access the STAT menu 
(CALC)
(1-Var Stats)
Say which list(s) the data is in; if (L1)
all frequencies are 1, the second 
list is not needed. (L2)
Scroll down to see further 

information 



Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculator skills: 12 Descriptive statistics 1
Interpreting the Information...
Symbol Meaning Notes

x Mean of the data
∑x Sum of the data
∑x 2 Sum of the squares of the data
Sx Estimate of the standard deviation of This is the ‘unbiased estimate’

the population
σx Standard deviation of the data
n Number of data items Useful for checking that data has been
correctly entered.
minX Smallest data value
Q1 Lower quartile
Med Median
Q3 Upper quartile
maxX Largest data value
Each of these variables can be accessed for calculations by going to  (Statistics).
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculator skills: 12 Descriptive statistics 2
TEXAS*®
13 Discrete probability distributions
Finding the probability of a single outcome

• The distribution, including relevant parameters • X ~ (10, 0.4)
• The outcome whose probability you want to find • P( X = 3)
How you do it...

To get to the correct menu (DISTR)
(binompdf) (press  until 
you get to the correct line)

Enter the parameters 





X ~ (10, 0.4).
From GDC P ( ) . ( SF).
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculator skills: 13 Discrete probability distributions 1
Finding a cumulative probability

• The distribution, including relevant parameters • X~ (15)
• Cumulative probability in the form P( X k) • P( X ≤ 18)
How you do it...

To get to the correct 
menu (DISTR) (poissoncdf)
(press  until you 
get to the correct

line)
Enter the parameters 



X~ (15).
From GDC P ( ) . ( SF).
Finding many probabilities
This is useful when finding the mode of a discrete distribution.

• The distribution, including relevant parameters • X~ (8)
• The range of outcomes whose probabilities you want to find • 1 ≤ X ≤ 10
How you do it...

Enter the (Edit)
required values of 
X into a list







Go back to the (QUIT)
main screen. (DISTR)
Calculate 
probabilities 
(poissonpdf) and
store in another 
list (poissonpdf)



(L1)


(L2)

You can see the (EDIT)
probabilities in
list L2
Summary of syntax
Distribution Probability to find Syntax
X ~ B ( n, p ) P( X k) binompdf(n,p,k)
X ~ B ( n, p ) P( X k) binomcdf(n,p,k)
X P (m) P( X k) poisspdf(m,k)
X P (m) P( X k) poissoncdf(m,k)
TEXAS*®
14 Normal distribution
Finding a probability

• The values of μ and σ • μ 3 σ = 1. 2
• The probability you wish to find • P( X ≥ 5)
How you do it...
Notes You will see

To get to the correct menu (DISTR)
Select cumulative normal (normalcdf)

distribution
Enter parameters (in this case, 
enter a large number for the upper 
bound):

normalcdf(lower,upper,mean,SD) 


X ~ (3,1.22 ).
From GDC P ( 5 ) 0.0 78 (3SF) .
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculater skills: 14 Normal distribution 1
Producing a shaded normal distribution diagram

• The parameters of the normal distribution • X ~ N (3, 2.52 )
• The range of values of X • P(5 X 6)
How you do it...

To get to the correct (DISTR)
menu (DRAW)
(ShadeNorm)
Enter the parameters 




Finding the boundary

• The parameters of the normal distribution • X ~ (12,, )
• Cumulative probability in the form P( X k) • P( X k ) = 0 42
How you do it...

To get to the correct menu  (DISTR)
(invNorm)
Enter parameters: 

invNorm(upper, mean, SD) 



X ~ (12,, ).
P( X k) ⇒k 0.6 (3 SF from
f GDC) .
To find the lower bound
If given P ( X k ) = 0 6, use the above method with P ( X k ) = 0 4.
TEXAS*®
15 Systems of simultaneous equations
• A system of equations • x+ y+z=2
2 x + 2 y + 2z = 4
x + 2y + z = 2
To put this into the calculator we need to rewrite it as a table of all of the numbers involved, called
an augmented matrix:
⎛ 1 1 1 2⎞
⎜ 2 2 2 4⎟
⎜ ⎟
⎜⎝ 1 2 1 2 ⎟⎠
How you do it...

Go to the matrix menu (MATRX)
Edit matrix A  (EDIT)


Change the size of the matrix 

to 
3×4
Input the coefficients 






Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculater skills: 15 Systems of simultaneous equations 1
Solve the equations (Quit)

(MATRX)
(ref)
(MATRIX)
(A)



The system of equations can be written as:
x+ y+z=2
y=0
0 0.
This is a consistent set of equations with an infinite number of solutions of the form:
y 0 z = t, x = 2 − t.
Cambridge Mathematics for the IB Diploma Higher Level © Cambridge University Press, 2012 Calculater skills: 15 Systems of simultaneous equations 2

Calculator Skills - Texas Instruments

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Calculator Skills - Texas Instruments

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TEXAS*®

How you do it...

Notes You should press You will see

How you do it...

Notes You should press You will see

To use this in calculating 

How you do it...

Notes You should press You will see

You will need... In our example...

How you do it...

Notes You should press You will see

Display the graph 

Setting which part of the graph you see

Notes You should press You will see

For example: to find 9!

How you do it...

Notes You should press You will see

For example: to find | |.

How you do it...

Notes You should press You will see

For example: to find 4 16 .

How you do it...

Notes You should press You will see

How to ﬁnd coordinates of a point given an x-value

How you do it...

Notes You should press You will see

Input the required x-value 

What to write down...

How to ﬁnd coordinates of the points where y = 0 (zeros or roots)

How you do it...

Notes You should press You will see

Move the cursor to the left of  

Repeat for other roots if

What to write down...

How to ﬁnd the coordinates of a turning point

How you do it...

Notes You should press You will see

Take the cursor to the left of 

Repeat for other turning points

If you want to find minimum points, use 3:minimum instead.

What to write down...

How you do it...

Notes You should press You will see

Draw the graphs and look for 

If there is more than one graph, 

What to write down...

How you do it...

Notes You should press You will see

Move the cursor to the line 

What to write down...

You will need... In our example...

Input the degree of the polynomial 

Input the coefficients 

What to write down...

Storing the equation or the answers

You will need... In our example...

How you do it...

Notes You should press You will see

Non-linear simultaneous equations

Notes You should press You will see

How you do it...

Notes You should press You will see

Notes You should press You will see

What to write down...