Download Working with the TI-83 Graphing Calculator

Working with the Graphing Calculator
Before we even kick off this new school year, let’s take a moment
to investigate the graphing calculators. For many of you, this is your first
time working with the calculator. It is a powerful tool that can really
assist us in solving problems, but only if we know how to use them!
Follow along with this activity to help familiarize yourself with the
calculator functions.
I.
Turning on and off the calculator.
ON –
ON
(lower left corner)
OFF – 2ND
(yellow button) 
ON
II. Basic Operations. Follow this activity to familiarize yourself with basic operations.
 Try three different numbers and
record your results in the table.







Pick any number.
Add 30.
Multiply by 5.
Subtract 100.
Now double it.
Divide by 10.
Subtract your original number.
Your #
Result
What do you notice about the result??
III. Exponents.
a. Squaring a number – if the exponent is just 2, there is a shortcut key. Follow the
steps to find 272:
2

7

x2
= ______
Evaluate the following:

10  5 – 22  2 = ______

2  32  5  3  1 = ______
b. All other exponents. Follow the steps to find 75:
7

^

5
= ______ 18  2 3  3  4
Evaluate the following:

18  2 3  3  4 = ______

24 – 8  4 + 72 = ______
IV. Parentheses. Parentheses are often used in expressions to group values. Luckily, the
calculator offers parentheses buttons. If the expression has them, you
must plug them into your calculator! Follow the steps to find (-8)2:
(
-

8

)


x2
= ______
Evaluate the following:

(-11)2 = ______

(-7 + 4)2 = ______

(-18/3)2= ______

-112 = ______

-7 + 42= ______

-18/32 = ______
What did you find out about using/not using parentheses? Does it make a
difference in your answer? Explain.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
V.
Decimals and Fractions:
a. Fraction to Decimal – Just use the division key to obtain the decimal. Follow the
steps to change
3
/


8
=
3
to a decimal:
8
______
b. Decimal to Fraction – Follow the steps to change 0.68 to a fraction:
.

6

8

MATH
ENTER


ENTER
=
______
Convert the following to fractions:

1.24 = ______

-3.2 = ______

2.125 = ______

-1.166666666666 = ______

1.75 = ______

-5.1111111111111 = ______