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This guide provides a list of the most common commands on the TI-84 used in a calculus class. Most of the
commands also appear on the TI-83, unless otherwise noted. These exceptions are noted with a (*).
CONTENTS
RADIAN VERSUS DEGREE ........................................................................................................................................................... 2
CREATING A GRAPH ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2
ADJUSTING THE WINDOW ....................................................................................................................................................... 2
USING THE TRACE ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2
FINDING A ZERO GRAPHICALLY ........................................................................................................................................... 3
FINDING A MINIMUM GRAPHICALLY .............................................................................................................................. 3
FINDING A MAXIMUM GRAPHICALLY ............................................................................................................................. 3
FINDING WHERE TWO CURVES INTERSECT ................................................................................................................. 3
DIFFERENT TYPES OF GRAPHS ............................................................................................................................................... 4
GRAPHING PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS ............................................................................................................................ 4
GRAPHING POLAR EQUATIONS ............................................................................................................................................ 4
FINDING A DERIVATIVE .............................................................................................................................................................. 5
FINDING AN INTEGRAL ............................................................................................................................................................... 5
EQUATION SOLVER ......................................................................................................................................................................... 5
PERMUTATIONS AND COMBINATIONS .......................................................................................................................... 6
RANDOM NUMBERS....................................................................................................................................................................... 6
ENTERING MATRICES .................................................................................................................................................................... 6
COMMON MATRIX OPERATIONS ......................................................................................................................................... 7
Option 1: det([A]) ................................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Option 2: [A]T ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Option B: rref([A]) ............................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Home screen: [A]-1 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
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Press MODE
Select either RADIAN or DEGREE
CREATING A GRAPH
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To create a graph:
Press Y=
Type the function to be graphed by Y1=
Type further functions to be graphed on Y2=, Y3=, etc. if more need graphing simultaneously
Press GRAPH
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More than likely the graph window will need to be adjusted to cater to the function at hand. To adjust it
after either entering in the function or graphing it:
Press WINDOW
Choose a lower and upper bound for the x-axis (Xmin and Xmax)
Choose an appropriate scale for the x-axis (Xscl, by default 1)
Choose a lower and upper bound for the y-axis (Ymin and Ymax)
Choose an appropriate scale for the y-axis (Yscl, by default 1)
Typically leave Xres = 1
Press GRAPH
To go back to the standard window where both axes are between -10 and 10:
Press ZOOM
Select Option 6: ZStandard
The graph will appear with the default window settings
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Use the left and right arrows to move the cursor along the function
To find a specific y-value, enter the x-value and press ENTER (make sure the window includes the
(x,y) point of interest)
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Having plotted two functions with their intersection appearing in the window:
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Press MODE
Select FUNC (regular Cartesian), PAR (parametric), or POL (polar)
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FINDING A DERIVATIVE
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Press MATH
Select Option 8: nDeriv(
Compute nDeriv(function in terms of x, x, a)
Press ENTER
The calculator finds the derivative at a numerically
Example: To find the derivative of y = 3x3 at x = 1, compute nDeriv(3X^3,X,1). The answer is 9.000003, or 9.
FINDING AN INTEGRAL
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Press MATH
Select Option 9: fnInt(
Compute fnInt(function in terms of x, x, a, b)
Press ENTER
The calculator finds the definite integral from a to b numerically.
Example: To find the integral of y = sin(x) from 0 to , compute fnInt(sin(X),X,0,). The answer is 2.
EQUATION SOLVER
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Press MATH
Select Option 0: Solver
Move the cursor to the equation
Enter the equation in terms of X, which must be equal to 0 on the left side
Move the cursor down to the next line, which says X = (some number). Ignore what that number
says.
Press ALPHA, then ENTER. This selects the SOLVE option
The calculator solves for X numerically.
Example: solve for x in the equation x3 = 8. Enter as the equation 0 = x3 8. After executing SOLVE, the
answer turns out to be 2.
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Press MATH
Select PRB to access the probability-associated functions
(1) Compute the permutation 8P3 as 8, then type nPr 3, then 3, and the answer is 336.
(2) Compute the combination 8C3 as 8, then type nCr, then 3, and the answer is 56.
(3) Compute the factorial 6! as 6, then !, and the answer is 720.
RANDOM NUMBERS
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Press MATH
Select PRB to access the random number generators.
(1) To randomly generate a decimal number between 0 and 1, simple choose Rand and press ENTER.
(2) To randomly generate k integers from the range a to b, type RandInt(a, b, k) and press ENTER. The
result is a random sample of k integers from the given range, with possible repetitions.
ENTERING MATRICES
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Press 2nd
Press x-1
Select EDIT
Select a matrix
Specify its dimensions
Enter the required values
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Certain matrix operations are not uncommon in higher statistics and algebra. The following are the most
common., and they can be found under the MATRIX menu and selecting MATH.
Option 1: det([A])
This returns the determinant of matrix [A], provided [A] is a square matrix.
Option 2: [A]T
This returns the transpose of matrix [A]. Enter [A] first, followed by T.
Option B: rref([A])
This returns the reduced echelon form of matrix [A]. Be careful not to use ref( ) instead.
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