TI – 84 Plus
Tips and Techniques
Kenneth Mann
Modified by Terry Dugger for DMA 065
Catawba Valley Community College
Revised Fall 2015
2
Part I Standard Commands
1. Operations
2. Exponent key
3. Square key
4. Square root key
5. nth root key
6. Fractions
7. Enter key
8. Scientific notation
9. Reset
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p. 4
Part II Graphing
1. Linear equations
2. Quadratic equations
p. 4
p. 5
Part III Working with Graphs
1. How to set up your table
2. How to evaluate an equation
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p. 5
Foreword: This is by no means a complete list of everything the TI-83/84 can
do. This is intended to get you through the basics of the topics listed above. I
would recommend the TI web site http://education.ti.com to see more
applications of the calculator. Also, this text is geared for the TI – 83/84, TI –
83/84 plus, and the TI – 83/84 plus silver edition only. And while calculators
make excellent tools and are efficient time savers for the most part, there is
seldom a substitute for learning and doing things “by hand”.
Note: Keys to be pressed will be in italics.
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Part I Standard Commands
1. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are the same as on a
scientific calculator.
2. The power key is ^, located on the right side above the division key.
3. The square key (x2) is on the left side 4 keys up from the on key.
4. To get the square root key hit 2nd, x2, and the number you are taking the
square root of.
example. 2nd, x2, 16 You should see 16 after you finish typing.
Hit Enter to get 4.
Note: It is not necessary to close parentheses but it is not a
bad habit to get into.
5. nth root
To find the 4th root of 16: Press 4, press Math, select # 5, type in 16 then
press enter. The answer is 2.
6. Converting numbers to fraction form.
a. You can type in the number, then press Math. You will see the word Math
on the top of the screen highlighted, then immediately below it you will
see 1: > Frac with the 1: highlighted. Hit Enter twice and the original
number will be in fraction form.
Note: Not all numbers will be converted into fractions if they are
irrational numbers or numbers with large denominators.
b. If you have performed calculations and wish to convert an answer to
fraction form, after you have gotten your final answer hit Math, then
Enter twice, and you will see your answer as a fraction.
c. To type in a fraction press Alpha F1, which is the Y= button. Select1 or
n/d. Put in the numerator and then press the down arrow and put in the
denominator. Hit the right arrow to exit the fraction.
7. If you wish to see a previous calculation hit 2nd and Enter, and you will
see the last calculation you performed. You can scroll to edit what you
typed if need be. If you hit 2nd and Enter again you will see the
calculation before last, and so on. If you go too far eventually you will
come back to the most recent operation.
8. A number written with E and a number after it (example: 2.999999E12)
is written in scientific Notation. The equivalent form would be the first
4
number multiplied by 10 to the 12th power. A number written as 4E-7 is 4
multiplied by 10 to the – 7th power (a decimal point, 6 zeroes, and a 4 or
0.0000004)
9. To reset the calculator.
Press 2nd Mem, this is the plus key, select # 7 Reset, select #1 All RAM,
select 2 Reset.
Warning: this will erase any programs that you have added to the
calculator.
Part II Graphing
1. Linear equations
To graph a linear equation
1. Hit “Y=” in the upper left corner. The cursor will be next to “=” next to Y1.
2. Type in the equation using the “X,T,  ,n” key below the “mode” key at
the top of the calculator. Note that the equation should be in slope –
intercept form (in the form y = 3x + 5 for example).
3. A “standard window” has the following characteristics.
Xmin = - 10
(the minimum x – value on the screen will be – 10)
Xmax = 10
(the maximum x – value on the screen will be 10)
Xscl = 1
(the marks on the x – axis will be 1 unit apart.)
Ymin = - 10
(the minimum y – value on the screen will be – 10)
Ymax = 10
(the maximum y – value on the screen will be – 10)
Yscl = 1
(the marks on the y – axis will be 1 unit apart.)
Xres = 1
Note: You can set your calculator to a “standard window” by pressing
Zoom and choosing 6 for zstandard.
4. To see the equation and the x and y coordinates of the cursor hit trace
and they will appear.
Examples: Graph the following equations:
Y = -3x + 23
Y = 2/3x - 6
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2. Quadratic equations
1) Quadratic equations are graphed the same as linear equations.
Part III Working with Graphs
1. How To Set up Your Table
1. Press 2nd Table Set, this is above the window key
2. Set the indpnt to ASK
3. Set the depend to AUTO
2. To evaluate an equation.
1. Hit Y = to enter an equation. You may need to rewrite the equation to get
y by itself first before you enter it in.
2. Hit 2nd Table Set. Move your curser to the “Ask” beside the Independent.
Press enter to highlight the Ask. Beside the dependent you should have the
Auto highlighted.
3. Hit 2nd Table. Under the x, input the x value and the y value will appear in
the Y1 column.