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TI-84 Plus and TI-84 Plus Silver Edition

Guidebook


Note: This guidebook for the TI-84 Plus or TI-84 Plus Silver Edition with operating system (OS) version 2.55MP. If your calculator has a previous OS version, your screens may look different and some features may not be available. You can download the latest OS education.ti.com/guides.

Important Information


Texas Instruments makes no warranty, either express or implied, including but not limited to any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, regarding any programs or book materials and makes such materials available solely on an "as-is" basis. In no event shall Texas Instruments be liable to anyone for special, collateral, incidental, or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of the purchase or use of these materials, and the sole and exclusive liability of Texas Instruments, regardless of the form of action, shall not exceed the purchase price of this product. Moreover, Texas Instruments shall not be liable for any claim of any kind whatsoever against the use of these materials by any other party.


© 2004–2010 Texas Instruments Incorporated

Vernier EasyData, Vernier LabPro, and Vernier Go! Motion are a trademarks of Vernier Software & Technology.

Contents


Important Information ii

Chapter 1:

Operating the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition 1

Documentation Conventions 1

TI-84 Plus Keyboard 1

Turning On and Turning Off the TI-84 Plus 3

Setting the Display Contrast 4

The Display 5

Interchangeable Faceplates 8

Using the Clock 9

Entering Expressions and Instructions 11

Setting Modes 14

Using TI-84 Plus Variable Names 19

Storing Variable Values 20

Recalling Variable Values 21

Scrolling Through Previous Entries on the Home Screen 22

ENTRY (Last Entry) Storage Area 22

TI-84 Plus Menus 25

VARS and VARS Y-VARS Menus 27

Equation Operating System (EOSâ„¢) 29

Special Features of the TI-84 Plus 30

Other TI-84 Plus Features 31

Error Conditions 33

Chapter 2:

Math, Angle, and Test Operations 35

Getting Started: Coin Flip 35

Keyboard Math Operations 36

MATH Operations 38

Using the Equation Solver 42

MATH NUM (Number) Operations 45

Entering and Using Complex Numbers 50

MATH CPX (Complex) Operations 54

MATH PRB (Probability) Operations 56

ANGLE Operations 59

TEST (Relational) Operations 62

TEST LOGIC (Boolean) Operations 63

Chapter 3:

Function Graphing 65

Getting Started: Graphing a Circle 65

Defining Graphs 66

Setting the Graph Modes 67

Defining Functions 68

Selecting and Deselecting Functions 69

Setting Graph Styles for Functions 71

Setting the Viewing Window Variables 73

Setting the Graph Format 74

Displaying Graphs 76

Exploring Graphs with the Free-Moving Cursor 78

Exploring Graphs with TRACE 78

Exploring Graphs with the ZOOM Instructions 80

Using ZOOM MEMORY 85

Using the CALC (Calculate) Operations 87

Chapter 4:

Parametric Graphing 91

Getting Started: Path of a Ball 91

Defining and Displaying Parametric Graphs 93

Exploring Parametric Graphs 95

Chapter 5:

Polar Graphing 97

Getting Started: Polar Rose 97

Defining and Displaying Polar Graphs 98

Exploring Polar Graphs 100

Chapter 6:

Sequence Graphing 102

Getting Started: Forest and Trees 102

Defining and Displaying Sequence Graphs 103

Selecting Axes Combinations 107

Exploring Sequence Graphs 107

Graphing Web Plots 109

Using Web Plots to Illustrate Convergence 110

Graphing Phase Plots 111

Comparing TI-84 Plus and TI-82 Sequence Variables 113

Keystroke Differences Between TI-84 Plus

and TI-82 114

Chapter 7:

Tables 115

Getting Started: Roots of a Function 115

Setting Up the Table 116

Defining the Dependent Variables 117

Displaying the Table 118

Chapter 8:

Draw Instructions 121

Getting Started: Drawing a Tangent Line 121

Using the DRAW Menu 122

Clearing Drawings 123

Drawing Line Segments 124

Drawing Horizontal and Vertical Lines 125

Drawing Tangent Lines 126

Drawing Functions and Inverses 127

Shading Areas on a Graph 128

Drawing Circles 128

Placing Text on a Graph 129

Using Pen to Draw on a Graph 130

Drawing Points on a Graph 131

Drawing Pixels 132

Storing Graph Pictures (Pic) 134

Recalling Graph Pictures (Pic) 135

Storing Graph Databases (GDB) 135

Recalling Graph Databases (GDB) 136

Chapter 9:

Split Screen 137

Getting Started: Exploring the Unit Circle 137

Using Split Screen 138

Horiz (Horizontal) Split Screen 139

G-T (Graph-Table) Split Screen 140

TI-84 Plus Pixels in Horiz and G-T Modes 141

Chapter 10:

Matrices 143

Getting Started: Using the MTRX Shortcut Menu 143

Getting Started: Systems of Linear Equations 144

Defining a Matrix 145

Viewing and Editing Matrix Elements 146

Using Matrices with Expressions 148

Displaying and Copying Matrices 149

Using Math Functions with Matrices 151

Using the MATRX MATH Operations 154

Chapter 11:

Lists 161

Getting Started: Generating a Sequence 161

Naming Lists 162

Storing and Displaying Lists 163

Entering List Names 164

Attaching Formulas to List Names 165

Using Lists in Expressions 167

LIST OPS Menu 168

LIST MATH Menu 175

Chapter 12:

Statistics 178

Getting Started: Pendulum Lengths and Periods 178

Setting Up Statistical Analyses 184

Using the Stat List Editor 185

Attaching Formulas to List Names 188

Detaching Formulas from List Names 190

Switching Stat List Editor Contexts 190

Stat List Editor Contexts 192

STAT EDIT Menu 193

Regression Model Features 195

STAT CALC Menu 198

Statistical Variables 206

Statistical Analysis in a Program 207

Statistical Plotting 208

Statistical Plotting in a Program 212

Chapter 13:

Inferential Statistics and Distributions 215

Getting Started: Mean Height of a Population 215

Inferential Stat Editors 218

STAT TESTS Menu 221

Inferential Statistics Input Descriptions 239

Test and Interval Output Variables 240

Distribution Functions 241

Distribution Shading 248

Chapter 14:

Applications 251

The Applications Menu 251

Getting Started: Financing a Car 252

Getting Started: Computing Compound Interest 253

Using the TVM Solver 253

Using the Financial Functions 254

Calculating Time Value of Money (TVM) 255

Calculating Cash Flows 257

Calculating Amortization 258

Calculating Interest Conversion 261

Finding Days between Dates/Defining Payment Method 261

Using the TVM Variables 262

The EasyDataâ„¢ Application 263

Chapter 15:

CATALOG, Strings, Hyperbolic Functions 266

Browsing the TI-84 Plus CATALOG 266

Entering and Using Strings 267

Storing Strings to String Variables 268

String Functions and Instructions in the CATALOG 269

Hyperbolic Functions in the CATALOG 273

Chapter 16:

Programming 275

Getting Started: Volume of a Cylinder 275

Creating and Deleting Programs 276

Entering Command Lines and Executing Programs 278

Editing Programs 279

Copying and Renaming Programs 280

PRGM CTL (Control) Instructions 281

PRGM I/O (Input/Output) Instructions 288

Calling Other Programs as Subroutines 293

Running an Assembly Language Program 294

Chapter 17:

Activities 296

The Quadratic Formula 296

Box with Lid 299

Comparing Test Results Using Box Plots 306

Graphing Piecewise Functions 308

Graphing Inequalities 309

Solving a System of Nonlinear Equations 310

Using a Program to Create the Sierpinski Triangle 311

Graphing Cobweb Attractors 312

Using a Program to Guess the Coefficients 313

Graphing the Unit Circle and Trigonometric Curves 315

Finding the Area between Curves 316

Using Parametric Equations: Ferris Wheel Problem 317

Demonstrating the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus 319

Computing Areas of Regular N-Sided Polygons 321

Computing and Graphing Mortgage Payments 323

Chapter 18:

Memory and Variable Management 326

Checking Available Memory 326

Deleting Items from Memory 329

Clearing Entries and List Elements 329

Archiving and UnArchiving Variables 330

Resetting the TI-84 Plus 333

Grouping and Ungrouping Variables 336

Garbage Collection 339

ERR:ARCHIVE FULL Message 343

Chapter 19:

Communication Link 344

Getting Started: Sending Variables 344

TI-84 Plus LINK 345

Selecting Items to Send 347

Receiving Items 350

Backing Up RAM Memory 351

Error Conditions 352

Appendix A:

Functions and Instructions 354

Appendix B:

Reference Information 383

Variables 383

Statistics Formulas 384

Financial Formulas 387

Important Things You Need to Know About Your TI-84 Plus 391

Error Conditions 394

Accuracy Information 398

Appendix C:

Service and Warranty Information 400

Texas Instruments Support and Service 400

Battery Information 400

In Case of Difficulty 402

Chapter 1:

Operating the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition


Documentation Conventions


In the body of this guidebook, TI-84 Plus refers to the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition, but all of the instructions, examples, and functions in this guidebook also work for the TI-84 Plus. The two graphing calculators differ only in available RAM memory, interchangeable faceplates, and Flash application ROM memory. Sometimes, as in Chapter 19, the full name TI-84 Plus Silver Edition is used to distinguish it from the TI-84 Plus.


Screen shots were taken using OS version 2.53MP and higher in either MathPrintâ„¢ or Classic mode. All features are available in both modes; however, screens make look slightly different depending on the mode setting. Many examples highlight features that are not available in previous OS versions. If your calculator does not have the latest OS, features may not be available and your screens may look different. You can download the latest OS from education.ti.com.


A new MODE menu item, STAT WIZARDS is available with OS version 2.55MP for syntax entry help for commands and functions in the STAT CALC menu, DISTR DISTR menu, DISTR DRAW menu and the seq( function (sequence) in the LIST OPS menu. When selecting a supported statistics command, regression or distribution with the STAT WIZARDS setting ON: (the default setting) a syntax help (wizard) screen is displayed. The wizard allows the entry of required and optional arguments. The function or command will paste with the entered arguments to the Home Screen history or in most other locations where the cursor is available for input. If a command or function is accessed from [CATALOG] the command or function will paste without wizard support. Run the Catalog Help application ([APPS]) for more syntax help when needed.


TI-84 Plus Keyboard


Generally, the keyboard is divided into these zones: graphing keys, editing keys, advanced function keys, and scientific calculator keys.


Keyboard Zones


Graphing — Graphing keys access the interactive graphing features. The third function of these keys ([ALPHA] [F1] [F4]) displays the shortcut menus, which include templates for fractions, n/d, quick matrix entry, and some of the functions found on the MATH and VARS menus.


Editing — Editing keys allow you to edit expressions and values.


Advanced — Advanced function keys display menus that access the advanced functions.


Scientific — Scientific calculator keys access the capabilities of a standard scientific calculator.

TI-84 Plus Silver Edition


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Graphing Keys are in the top row. Editing Keys are in the second and third rows.

Advanced Function Keys are in the fourth row.

Scientific Calculator Keys are in rows five through ten.


Using the Color-Coded Keyboard


The keys on the TI-84 Plus are color-coded to help you easily locate the key you need.


The light colored keys are the number keys. The keys along the right side of the keyboard are the common math functions. The keys across the top set up and display graphs. The [APPS] key provides access to applications such as the Inequality Graphing, Transformation Graphing, Conic Graphing, Polynomial Root Finder and Simultaneous Equation Solver, and Catalog Help.


The primary function of each key is printed on the keys. For example, when you press [MATH], the

MATH menu is displayed.


Using the [2nd] and [ALPHA] Keys


The secondary function of each key is printed above the key. When you press the [2nd] key, the character, abbreviation, or word printed above the other keys becomes active for the next keystroke. For example, when you press [2nd] and then [MATH], the TEST menu is displayed. This guidebook describes this keystroke combination as [2nd] [TEST].


Many keys also have a third function. These functions are printed above the keys in the same color as the [ALPHA] key. The third functions enter alphabetic characters and special symbols as well as access SOLVE and shortcut menus. For example, when you press [ALPHA] and then [MATH], the letter A is entered. This guidebook describes this keystroke combination as [ALPHA] [A].

If you want to enter several alphabetic characters in a row, you can press [2nd] [A-LOCK] to lock the alpha key in the On position and avoid having to press [ALPHA] multiple times. Press [ALPHA] a second time to unlock it.


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Note: The flashing cursor changes to Reverse A when you press [ALPHA], even if you are accessing a function or a menu.


Second row, first key is [2nd]

Accesses the second function printed above each key.


Third row, first key is [ALPHA]

Accesses the third function printed above each key.


[ALPHA] and top row keys one through four [F1]-[F4] Access shortcut menus for functionality including templates for fractions, n/d, and other functions.


Turning On and Turning Off the TI-84 PlusTurning On the Graphing Calculator


To turn on the TI-84 Plus, press [ON]. An information screen displays reminding you that you can press [ALPHA] [F1] - [F4] to display the shortcut menus. This message also displays when you reset RAM.


ï‚„ To continue but not see this information screen again, press 1.


ï‚„ To continue and see this information screen again the next time you turn on the TI-84 Plus, press 2.