Using your TI-82 calculator

Dr. Philip J. Owens
Adjunct Math Instructor
Austin Community College - Northridge

Introduction
Graphing
Finance
Matrices
Permutations and Combinations
 Miscellaneous tricks



Introduction

Here's what your keypad looks like:
  • Each key is labeled; e.g. "GRAPH"
  • Most keys have an 2nd label; e.g. "TABLE"
  • If you want the "GRAPH" function, just press it
  • If you want the "TABLE" function, press "2nd", and then "GRAPH"
  • In the following, a key to be pressed will be colored in red, e.g. GRAPH  
  • Note that the TABLE key is, in fact, 2nd followed by GRAPH 
  • We will abbreviate the sequence 2nd GRAPH to TABLE (colored blue as a reminder that it represents a "2nd" or alternate usage key).  This convention will be used for all 2nd key designations
  • The "arrow" buttons (one for each of four directions) are at the upper right -- they are variously used depending on context



Graphing
Graphing a function
Tracing a function
Zooming in on a graph



Graphing a function   (example is f(x)=x2)
 
Press Y=.  You will see this screen:
This screen lets you define a function by typing it in where the cursor (black rectangle is). 
Press x,T,0 (the key next to ALPHA )  and  x 2  (that's 2 keys) 
Press GRAPH
Note that there is no scale indicated, but the default is 1, so each tick mark represents one unit.


Continue with the next section, "Tracing a function".



Tracing a function

You can see what the coordinates of various points on a graph are by tracing.
 
TRACE will place a cursor on your screen, somewhere on the graph. 

See the cursor?  Note also that the coordinates of the point are given at the bottom of the screen.  The cursor is at the point (0,0).

You can move the cursor using the arrow buttons. 
Press the right arrow button (several times) 
Note that the cursor has moved (but is tracing the function) and the new coordinates appear. 
Continue with the next section "Zooming in on a graph".



Zooming in on a graph

You may "zoom" in on a particular part of the graph in order to see more detail.  There are two ways to zoom.

Way 1 (zoom in around a particular point):
Place the cursor at the point you wish to zoom in on (I moved it to the origin). 
Press ZOOM ,  to see the following menu: 
Select  "Zoom In" (using the down arrow), then ENTER, then ENTER again. 
You  now see an "expanded" portion of the graph from about x=-2 to 2 and y=-2 to 2 
If you want to go back to the previous graph, do ZOOM and "Zoom Out".

Way 2 (pick a particular "boxed area" to zoom in on)
ZOOM , select "ZBox", and ENTER .  You won't see anything yet, but the calculator is ready for you to draw your box. 
Using the arrows, move to where you want a corner of your box to be, and press ENTER .
Use the arrow keys to move the cursor to where you want the diagonally opposite corner to be.  The calculator will draw a box as you go.
Press ENTER and CLEAR
You now see (full-screen) the portion of the graph within the box.