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For all work other than graphing and AP Stats, I highly recommend the TI-36X Pro. You can find them for about $20 online or at Staples, OfficeMax, and OfficeDepot.
Basics
Need to see how to do something else on the TI-36x Pro?? Just let me know and I can include it here or make a new video. Just text or email.
For all work other than graphing and AP Stats, I highly recommend the TI-36X Pro. You can find them for about $20 online or at Staples, OfficeMax, and OfficeDepot.
Basics
- If the calculator doesn't "look right", start by hitting 2nd 0 (reset) > Yes. That will put all the settings back to "normal"
- Mode (Very Top next to 2nd)
- Unless you are using radians (typically starting in precalculus or physics), leave in deg (degrees). If you are using radians, choose Rad, hit enter, and then 2nd Mode (quit)
- You will usually want to be in Norm unless you want scientific notation. Then select Sci hit enter, and then 2nd Mode (quit).
- Unless you have a reason (such as money problems), leave in Float.
- Until you get to imaginary and complex numbers, leave in Real. If you are using imaginary and complex numbers (typically starting in Algebra 2 or precalculus), set to a + bi hit enter, and then 2nd Mode (quit)
- You will almost always want to be in DEC mode unless you are taking a computer science or electronics class that covers other number systems, most commonly binary.
- Leave in MathPrint mode to see exact values and "pretty" calculations like you would see on your paper.
- Solvers!!
- There are 3 solvers that are very useful but YOU will need to do YOUR homework here!! Read the owner's manual and see many great YouTube videos on the topic such as Mr C's Playlist on the TI-36
- Another excellent playlist is by “Calculator Expert”: Calculator Expert's TI-36 Playlist.
- Num-solv. This will "do the algebra" for simple equations, but it is not foolproof!
- Poly-solv. This will help you factor and solve quadratic equations and cubic equations. It uses the Quadratic Formula to do the calculations.
- Sys-solv. This will solve a system of equations (if they are linear).
- Checking your answer for an equation.
- This is great for multiple choice problems or just seeing if your solution was correct.
- Example, check to see if X = 4 is a solution to 5X + 6 = 26. Press 4 the "STO -->" then the "Xyxt abcd" button. You should see 4 --> x
Then hit enter to store. Now enter the original equation just as you see it, 5X + 6 and see if you get 26. Now you KNOW it's right. - There is no reason to “clear” the value stored in x.
- Using fractions
- To enter a fraction, just hit the fraction button above the 7. Try it. Enter ⅛ by hitting 1, frac 8 enter. Notice that it comes out as a fraction. Want to change it to a decimal? Hit the convert button just above the enter.
- To change a repeating decimal to a fraction, you must put in SEVERAL decimal points. Try entering 0.1666666667 and hitting the convert button. It should give you ⅙. Hit it again, and it’s back to 0.1666666667
- To enter a fraction, just hit the fraction button above the 7. Try it. Enter ⅛ by hitting 1, frac 8 enter. Notice that it comes out as a fraction. Want to change it to a decimal? Hit the convert button just above the enter.
- Scientific Notation: To enter a number in scientific notation, simply replace the x10 with the EE key. Example: 2.5 x 102 should be entered as 2.5 EE 2. It will only display 1 E on the screen. 2.5E2 enter will show you the number is 250. Want to get it back into scientific notation? Go to mode, select sci, hit enter, then hit quit. Enter 250 (or just scroll up to it), and hit enter. It now shows 2.5E2. If the number is too big or too small, it will automatically display the number in scientific notation.
- Multi-tap keys
- Some keys make you hit the key more than once to toggle through the options. For example, to enter the imaginary number, i, hit 3 times.
- Physics Students: You will likely have to use vectors and change from the vector to its components and vice versa. You may not do vectors at an angle if you are in an on-level or conceptual physics, but most Honors and AP Physics students will need to do this. Calculator Expert's video on vectors and rectangular coordinates.
WARNING!! The deg or rad in mode will greatly affect these calculations!!
Need to see how to do something else on the TI-36x Pro?? Just let me know and I can include it here or make a new video. Just text or email.
