Exploring Mathematics with the TI-nspire CAS Calculator

Contact Details
It is important that you put your name on the back and cover of the CAS Calculator. You should also create a file
with your name and phone number and store it in a file on your CAS.
Watch the video “CAS - Contact Details”.

Charging your CAS Calculator

- The best and safest way to charge your CAS is via USB on a computer. The TI Student software or TI Link
software must be installed on your computer so that the drivers are installed to enable your CAS to charge
correctly. Download the Student software from the TI website and enter your licence number. If you don’t have a
licence your CAS will still charge after the trial period has expired. The Link software does not require a licence.
Also make sure the USB port is set to charge if your computer enters sleep mode.

- Do not use your IPad/IPhone charger as it can confuse the software on your CAS
and stop the battery charging correctly.

- Students who have used a generic wall charger in the past have damaged their
battery and even destroyed their CAS Calculator. This is not covered under
warranty. Watch the video “Charge your TI CAS correctly”.
If you wish to use a wall charger to charge your CAS we recommend that you
purchase the TI-nspire wall charger.

- If your CAS is damaged and it is not covered under the warranty then it can be TI CAS Wall Charger
replaced at a reduced price using the Texas Instruments Out of Warranty
Replacement Program.

Review Chapter 1: Navigating the TI-Nspire from MQMCC.

Please read the chapter.

Operating System(OS)
The Project instructions have been written for the TI-nspire CX CAS(black body). This update has added the
Python Programming Language to the OS. If you wish to investigate Python further, check out the “10 Minutes of
Code” at the Texas Instruments Australia website. To check your OS, press c, 5:Settings, 4:Status. Please make
sure that you have upgraded your CAS calculator to the latest OS. Go to Canvas for full instructions on how to
upgrade your OS or ask your class teacher.
Calculators and Education Technology | Texas Instruments

Scratchpad
The Scratchpad is used for quick access to a Calculator Page and Graphs Page and, as the name suggests, is used
for simple calculations. The pages can be inserted into the current open document or saved in a new document.
Note: Some Scratchpad operations may not function as well or may be slightly differently to those in document
pages. As the name suggests it is for rough working that you do not wish to do on a Document or Graphs Page.
Only minor calculations should be done in the Scratchpad or don’t use it at all.

1 C. Ireson, MHS
Settings
You should familiarise yourself with other features in c,5:Settings,2:Document Settings. This displays the
global settings of a Calculator Page when it is first opened. This can also be accessed by clicking the “Settings
Wheel” in the top right hand corner of the display screen The local settings of a Calculator Page can be accessed
and changed inside a document, ~, 7:Settings & Status, 2:Document Settings. Graphs Page settings are only
accessed when on a Graphs Page, b,9: Settings & Status. Make sure that the box is checked for Automatically
find points of interest. Press e several times to move to a new setting. Press x to check the box. e to
Make Default and press x twice.

Document Graphs and Geometry

Graphs Window Settings

You need to practise finding the best window size to view your graph.
Press b, 4:Window/Zoom. If you don't know where to start try
5:Zoom – Standard(the opening Graphs Window) or A:Zoom – Fit and
then maybe alter 1:Window Settings. You need to become familiar
with all twelve Window Settings and become quick at setting the CAS
Screen Window for your particular purpose. i.e. Increase the window
size to see the whole graph. Alternative method below.

Example 1a. Display the whole graph of y = x 2 − x − 10 on the Graphs Page.

In the Standard Window View, the graph does not quite fit. Move the arrow pointer |away from the graph and
axes and hold down the Click button x until a closed hand appears and then release the button or press
/x. Then use the TouchPad arrows keys to move the window until the stationary point is included.
Press d.

Note: You can also alter the Window Settings, b, 4:Window/Zoom, 1: Window Settings or A:ZoomFit.

y x 2 − 10 on the Graphs Page.

Example 1b. Display the whole graph of =
Watch the video “CAS - Changing the Graphs Page Window Scales” on Canvas. THIS IS THE BEST METHOD.
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Shortcut Keys
There are many shortcut keys to save you time looking through the menus. Many Microsoft shortcuts are the
same on the TI-nspire, such as copy, /C, cut, /X and paste, /V.

Some others are:

/N – inserts a new document /R – recalculate(in Lists and Spreadsheets) or
/O – opens My Documents run(in programs)
/I – inserts a page in the current document gd or /Y – redo
/S or /» – saves the current document ge – moves backwards in the menu
/G – show/hide Entry Line in a Graphs window t – select ( o ‘ “) degrees, mins, secs template
/T – show/hide Table of values in a Graphs
window or º – or ¹ –
/7 – move to the top of the page select (o) degrees, ( ‘ ) mins, ( ‘ ) twice is secs
/1 – move to the end of the page /Í – ≤ or ≥ symbol
/9– page up /· – approximates answer
/3– page down /. – clears entire entry line
/d or /Z – undo /x. – selects item in graph page
/K. – selects a complete page to be copied

If the CAS Calculator freezes with the spinning timer, }, press down and hold the c button for 5 seconds or
d for older models.
For more shortcuts see the pdf “TI Guidebook p17-20 shortcuts” in Pages on Canvas in “Unit 1 - Project and CAS
Documents”.

Catalogue
If you can’t remember which menu a formula/process is found, then
try the Catalogue. Press k ,1:a-z.
Press F to access F– items, R to access R–items and then use the TouchPad
arrow keys and x to find what you’re looking for. Investigate the other menu
items such as 5: Templates.

Editing entries in the Calculator Page

If you didn’t realise you made a mistake in the Entry Line before pressing ·, you don’t need to retype the
whole line again, but can press the TouchPad £ to highlight the entry to be edited and then press · once only.
Then use a combination of the TouchPad arrow keys, /1, /7 and . to correct the error.

Example 2. Solve 2 x 2 − 5 x − 8 = 0 as exact values. In the screenshot below +8 was typed in instead of − 8 . False
also indicates that there are no solutions to the incorrect equation that was entered, which also means that the
graph of y = 2 x 2 − 5 x + 8 does not cross or touch the x−axis. Once the equation is edited as in the instructions
above, the correct exact value solutions are found.

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Format of Numbers in the Calculator Page
 1 
The Calculator Page can give answers as exact values  eg. 5, π , , 0.5 
 2 
or as decimal approximations
 1 
 eg. is given as 0.3333 rounded to 4 decimal places  . Investigate the
 3 
meaning of the settings AUTO, EXACT and APPROXIMATE in c, 5:
Settings, 2:Document Settings or ~, 7:Settings & Status, 2:Document
Settings and press e several times to Calculation Mode. Use ge to
move backwards in the menu.

Format of Numbers in the Graphs and Geometry Page

The Graphs and Geometry Page will only display values in decimal form to the
number of decimal places specified in the Graphs and Geometry Page
Settings found at b, 9: Settings, 2:Settings, then set Display Digits to Fix
and the required decimal places. (Investigate what Float does to a value.)
44
The value 0.44 shown on the Graphs Page could be or it could be
100
4
0.43783256 or which are all approximated to 0.44 rounded to 2 decimal
9
places.

****Always use the Calculator Page if an exact value is required.****

Do not copy the decimal from the Graphs Page to the Calculator Page and then use
b 2:Number,2:Approximate to Fraction facility as it will, in most cases, not convert it to the correct exact
value.

Clearly the exact value for the

31623
x-intercept is 10 and not .
10000

In the Calculator Page, if the decimal answer does not show the required
number of decimal places then you can either change the System or
Document Settings. c, 5:Settings, 2:Settings, 1:General and then set Fix
to the required decimal places and redo the calculation. It would be quicker
to press the TouchPad £ to highlight the answer and the press · once
only and more decimal places will be displayed on the Entry Line. But be
careful to round this value correctly to the required number of decimal
places.
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 y x 2 − 6 and find the positive x–intercept correct to 3 decimal places.
Example 3. Sketch the graph of =

In the Graphs Page, if the displayed coordinate does not display the correct number of decimal places, then use
the TouchPad arrows to hover the ÷ directly over either the x or y value and press + to increase the number of
decimal places and - to decrease the number of decimal places.
Watch the video “CAS - Changing the number of decimals places displayed on a Graphs Page”.

The first screenshot below shows the x–intercept correct to 4 decimal places and if this value is rounded to 3
decimal places it would appear that the answer is 2.450, but the correct answer is 2.449. By following the
instructions above, less decimal places can be displayed in the Graphs Page.

Press -

Checking on a Calculator Page 2.449487... putting in a line after the 3rd decimal place 2.449|487… is clearly
rounded to 2.449.

If more than one value is required to be found on a Graphs and Geometry Page, then the advice would be to
change the number of decimal places in the b, 9: Settings, 2:Settings, then set Display Digits to Fix 3 as the
values are automatically rounded to the required number of decimal places. Please be very careful when
rounding numbers!

Changing the number of Decimal Places

(1) To change the number of decimal places displayed on a Graphs and Geometry Page you must be in a
Graphs and Geometry Page b, 9: Settings, 2:Settings.
(2) To change the number of decimal places displayed on a Calculator Page you can either change these
in a Calculator Page and change the ~ 7:Settings and Status, 2:Document Settings or click the
“Settings Wheel” in the top right hand corner of the display screen and 2:Document Settings or on the
HOME Page 5:Settings.

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Sketching Linear Functions
See MQMCC 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7,3.8.

There is a menu for entering equations in different forms on a Graphs Page. b, 3:Graph Entry/Edit.
Vertical lines can be drawn. Examine all the different options.

Note: When equations are entered in different formats on a Graphs Page and they must be edited, open the
Entry/Edit line( press e) and click on the required graph to change to the correct editing format.

Example 4(a). Sketch the graph of y=2x+6 and 3x+2y=5 and find the intersection of the two lines.

Note: Press e to display the Graph Entry/Edit Line after the graph is drawn and use the Touchpad
arrows(£¤), to scroll through the equations.

The two lines intersect at ( −1, 4 ) .

Finding Points of Intersection

Refer to MQMCC 4.4 to see how to find the intersection of the two lines graphically.

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Trace
b, 5:Trace, 1:Graph Trace is set to find the y–intercept of the graph initially. To find other points of interest
you can use the Touchpad arrows(£¤), which can be quite slow and sometimes may not show the appropriate
x–value, or you can type in the x–value and press ·.
Note: It may be quicker to find these values in the Calculator Page.

Example 4(b). Sketch the graph of f ( x ) =− x + 6 , and find f ( 2 ) .

At the bottom of the Graph Page the coordinates of the point where x = 2 are shown.

Note: This can also be done in the Calculator Page. See Example 7. or use the Define feature and function
notation.

Using Solve() in a Calculator Page

See MQMCC 3.2, 4.5, 4.7.

2 x − 6 4(3 x + 2)
Example 5a. Solve for x, in the following. (i) 3 x + 5 − 4 ( 7 x − 2 ) =24 (ii) + > −2
5 6

Example 5b. Transpose the equation 2 x + 3 y =

10 to make (i) y the subject of the equation.
(ii) x the subject of the equation.

7 C. Ireson, MHS
Example 5c. To solve the linear equations =
y 3 x + 5 and y =−2 x + 5 simultaneously, enter the TI-nspire syntax:

solve ( y =
3x + 5 and y =−2 x + 5, x )

  y = 3x + 5 
or using the template t inside solve() - solve   , x
y = −2 x + 5 

or b, 3:Algebra, 7:Solve System of Equations, 2: Solve System of Linear Equations.

This method is best as it inserts the brackets and all variables used in the CAS syntax in one step.
  y = 3x + 5 
solve   , { x, y} 
y = −2 x + 5 

Solving a System Linear Simultaneous Equations with 3 Unknowns

See MQMCC 4.7.

“Given” key “ l ”
See MQMCC 2.2.

Press /=¡ for template symbol .

Example 6. Values may be substituted into an expression or rule using this symbol.
On a Calculator Page type the TI syntax:

x 2 + 2 x + 5 x = 2 or y = x 2 + 2 x + 5 x = 2 .

x 2 + 2 x + 5 x ={2,3, 4,5} or y = x 2 + 2 x + 5 x ={2,3, 4,5}

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Folio 1: Chapter 1.

Exact or Decimal Answers?

If the number of decimal places are not stated in the question for the answer to be rounded to, then an
exact answer is required. Exact answers are expected to be in simplified form. This applies to all
assessment tasks in Maths Methods Units 1&2.

Show the TI-nspire Syntax used in all questions that use the CAS Calculator.

1. Using the CAS Calculator, solve for x.

17 − x 49 + 2 x 4− x 3 ( x + 1)
a) = +5 b) +5≤
2 5 9 7

2π r 2
2. If=S + 2π d ,
3
a) Using the CAS Calculator, find the value of S if r = 5 and d = 10 .
b)(i) Using the CAS Calculator, transpose the equation to make r the subject of the equation, where r > 0 .
(ii) Without using the CAS Calculator, transpose the equation to make r the subject of the equation, where
r > 0.

3. a) Without using the CAS Calculator, solve the linear equations 3 y + 5 x = 6 and =y 4x + 5 .
b) Using the CAS Calculator, solve the linear equations 3 y + 5 x =6 and = y 4 x + 5 using a Calculator Page.
c) Sketch the two linear equations in on the same set of axes, labelling all relevant points.

4.a) Without using the CAS Calculator, find the equation of the straight line that is perpendicular to 4 x + 6 y =
7
and passes through the point ( −5, 2 ) in the form ax + by = c, a ∈ Z + .
b) Using the CAS Calculator, find the equation of the straight line that is perpendicular to 4 x + 6 y =
7 and
passes through the point ( −5, 2 ) in the form ax + by = c, a ∈ Z + .

5. Using the CAS Calculator, find the angle that the following straight lines make with the positive direction of the
x axis.
a) 3 x − 4 y =
6 to the nearest degree. b) 2 x + 5 y − 3 =0 in degrees and minutes to the nearest minute.

6. Using the CAS Calculator, find the acute angle between the straight lines with equations 2 x − 3 y =
6 and
5x + 4 y =7 in degrees rounded to 3 decimal places.

7. Using the CAS Calculator, solve the following three linear simultaneous equations.
2a + 3b − c = 5
a − 2b + 4c = −6
3a + b − 5c = 2

8. Using the CAS Calculator, find the value(s) of m that the following pair of straight lines with equations
( m + 3) x − 4 y =
6
mx + 2 y =
3
have no points of intersection.

9 C. Ireson, MHS