Using The TI-83 Calculator: Lesson 5: Linear Equations in Slope-Intercept Form
Using The TI-83 Calculator: Lesson 5: Linear Equations in Slope-Intercept Form
Introduction
The TI-83 calculator is a powerful tool for writing linear equations in slope-intercept form. By punching only a few buttons and entering a few pieces of information, the TI-83 can instantly generate a linear equation in slope-intercept form.
Getting Started
Two points are all you need to write an equation in slope-intercept form. By entering these two points, your calculator finds both the slope between these two points and the y-intercept of the line that connects these two points.
Clearing Lists
If your calculators screen was not like the sample screen, you need to clear the lists labeled L1 and L2.
To clear the lists, use the arrow keys to highlight L1. Hit CLEAR on your calculator, then hit ENTER.
Do the same to clear L2.
Step 3 Continued
For example, enter the following two points into L1 and L2:
Once the two points have been entered into lists L1 and L2, hit the STAT key again.
Step 6: ENTER
By hitting ENTER on this screen, the TI-83 will take the two points entered in L1 and L2 and calculate the slope and y-intercept of the line that connects those two points. For our example, the following screen will be the solution to our problem:
Solution to Example
From the information on the calculator, you can now write the equation for the example of the (-2,4) and (3,-6):
Y=-2X+0
Rewritten as
Y=-2X
Further Examples
For further practice, try writing equations for each of the following pairs of points:
1. (0,-3) and (2, 7) 2. (12,9) and (-4,-7) 3. (-10,3) and (5,3) 4. (4,12) and (4,9)
ERROR: DOMAIN
Why do you think that Example 4 resulted in an error? Look back at the two points used in Example 4what do you notice? You should notice that the x-value is the same in both points. When the x-value is repeated, the graph of the line is vertical.
Remember that the equation for a vertical line is X=___. For Example 4, the equation would then be X=4.
Conclusion
The more you use the TI-83 to write an equation in slope-intercept form, the easier it will become. To give you further practice using the TI-83 to write linear equations, take the following quiz and write your answers on your own sheet of paper:
QUIZ
1. (1,3) and (2,4) 2. (-5,7) and (7,9) 6. (6,18) and (3,9) 7. (5,-3) and (5,-4)