TI-89 GRAPHING CALCULATOR INTRO
Refer to your calculator operating manual for more details.
START-UP: When you turn your calculator on you are at the MAIN (or HOME) screen, which
has a number of menus listed across the top of the screen, an input line at the bottom of the
screen and an output area in the middle. The cursor appears blinking in the input area. If there
is data in this area, press the CLEAR button and it is removed. If there is data in the output area
press the F1 button at the top of the screen and select option 8: Clear Home by pressing the
number 8 or using the cursor arrows to move down to this line and press ENTER. Your screen
should now look like this:
Notice the information at the bottom of the screen: MAIN
RAD AUTO
FUNC 0/30
This tells us that we are on the main screen, the calculator is in radian mode, numerical values
will be given in either exact or approximate form as appropriate to the input, the calculator is in
Function graphing mode and we currently have used up zero lines out of 30 lines of output on
the middle screen.
SETTINGS: Press the MODE button. Your screen now looks like this:
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We want to ensure that are settings are the same. Under Graph we want 3D (3 dimensional
graphing mode) selected. If not selected, right cursor and you will see the following screen:
Type 5 or down cursor to option 5:3D and press ENTER to select it. Your screen now looks like:
Change the settings on your calculator to match what you see above. We are currently on F1:
Page 1. Press F2: Page 2. The screen now looks like:
Change the settings on your calculator to match these. At this point you have only changed the
mode settings, not saved them!
IMPORTANT: To save these settings, once all changes are made, press ENTER.
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Variables: This calculator is a symbolic calculator meaning it works with variables. Because of
this, implied operations are not acceptable. For example, if you want the product of two
variables x and y you must enter x*y into your calculator. The calculator will treat xy as a single
variable expression (See below).
All the letters of the alphabet are on the calculator key board in a purple colour and can be
accessed by pressing the purple alpha button first and then the key above which the desired
letter lies. To insert a space between letters press alpha (-). Because we will on occasion be
storing values or whole expressions to a letter, which will cause problems if we wish to use that
letter again, but in a different context, it is important we know how to clear data stored to
variables. The resetting process clears data from all letters at once.
Press 2nd F1=F6. Your screen now looks like:
Press ENTER or type 1 to select option 1:clear a-z. A dialogue box pops up asking you
permission to proceed: ENTER=YES ; ESC=CANCEL
Greek symbols and other Math symbols can be found in the Character menu. Press 2nd CHAR
(above the “+” key).
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Algebra:
Factoring: To factor an algebraic expression, the syntax is factor(algebraic expression). Press F2,
select option 2 and type in algebraic expression ending with “)”.
For example, F2 2 x^2-2x+1) produces ( x  1) 2 .
Expand: To expand an algebraic expression, the syntax is expand(algebraic expression). Press
F2, select option 3 and type in algebraic expression ending with “)”.
For example, F2 3 (x-1)^3) produces x 3  3x 2  3x  1 .
Common Denominator: To convert a sum or difference of fractions to the lowest common
denominator, the syntax is comDenom(algebraic sum or difference of fractions). Press F2, select
option 6 and type in algebraic expression ending with “)”.
For example, F2 6 1/x+2/(x+1)) produces
3x  1
x2  x
.
Solving Equations:
a) Real roots: To solve an equation with real roots, the syntax is solve(equation, variable).
Press F2, select option 1, type in equation, press “,”, press variable and end with “)”.
For example, F2 1 x^2-x-6=0,x) produces x  3 or x  2 . Notice that the equals sign is a
special key on the left side of the calculator, below the “x” key.
b) Complex roots: To solve an equation with complex roots, the syntax is csolve(equation,
variable). Press F2, select option A, select option 1, type in equation, press “,”, press
variable and end with “)”.
1
2
For example, F2 A 1 x^2+x+1=0,x) produces x   
3
1
3
i or x   
i.
2
2 2
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Differentiation & Integration:
Derivatives: To get the derivative of a single variable function, the syntax is d(algebraic
expression, variable). Press 2nd 8, type in algebraic expression, press “,”, press variable and end
with “)”.
For example, 2nd 8 x*cos(x),x) produces cos(x)  x  sin( x) . Notice that the multiplication symbol
must be used here.
Higher order derivatives: To get the nth derivative of a single variable function, the syntax is
d(algebraic expression, variable, n). Press 2nd 8, type in algebraic expression, press “,”, press
variable, press “,”, press n and end with “)”.
For example, 2nd 8 x*cos(x),x,3) produces the third derivative of x*cos(x), which is
x  sin( x)  3 cos(x) . Notice that the multiplication symbol must be used here.
Integrals: To evaluate the indefinite integral of a single variable function, the syntax is
 (algebraic expression, variable). Press 2nd 7, type in algebraic expression, press “,”, press variable
and end with “)”.
For example, 2nd 7 x*cos(x),x) produces cos(x)  x  sin( x) . Notice that the multiplication symbol
must be used here and the answer does not display an arbitrary constant, which belongs in the
answer.
To evaluate the definite integral of a single variable function, the syntax is
 (algebraic expression, variable,lower limit, upper limit). Press 2nd 7, type in algebraic expression,
press “,”, press variable, press “,”, press lower limit, press “,”, press upper limit and end with
“)”.
For example, 2nd 7 x*cos(x),x, 0, 1) produces cos(1)  sin(1)  1. Notice that the calculator is
displaying the exact answer.