!8: Used Scientific Calculator Ti-83: December 2011

Friday, December 16, 2011

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Tips For Using A Graphing Calculator In Math

!±8± Tips For Using A Graphing Calculator In Math

When students get to the more advanced math classes in their high school careers, they are typically required to purchase a graphing calculator. These calculators are unlike any tool they have used before, and can truly be compared to handheld computers. Before it becomes too overwhelming, students should consider a few tips for using their graphing calculator.

Before getting started with the graphing calculator, students should understand that this piece of equipment is far more advanced than what they have previously used. They will use it to solve entire problems and will spend a great deal of time staring at the screen. That is why they should first set the brightness and contrast settings to a level that will be comfortable for their eyes.

The most important thing a student can do to be successful with their new graphing calculator is to read the manual. There are many more keys on this calculator than the average model, and it is important to be familiar with them all. If this seems like too much to handle, they may want to make a cheat sheet with the most important key functions on it.

All of the keys on the graphing calculator are very useful in math class, but there are a few that will be used on a regular basis. The first key to become familiar with is the exponent key, which quickly solves any number to any exponent. It is also important to know how to use the y equals key, which is used to turn equations into graphs.

When a student first purchases a graphing calculator for math class, they may be overwhelmed by everything it is capable of doing. The best way to become comfortable with it is by reading the manual and understanding all of the functions. Before getting into everything the calculator can do, students should be sure they understand the functions that they will use on a regular basis.