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Time: 5 hours
Level: Introductory
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 Introduction Resource- This module is designed for students who have a graphics or scientific calculator. It gives some examples from the TI-84. So if you have a different calculator, some things may be a little different and...
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| | 1 Exploring your calculator
- 1.1 Setting up your scientific or graphics calculator Resource
- First have a look at your calculator keyboard. Some of the main features are described below.
- 1.2 Second functions Resource
- Notice that almost every key has more than one purpose or function. The main function is written directly on the key; but notice that written above the key, there is often another function. This is the...
- 1.3 Home screen Resource
- Some calculators, like the TI-84, provide you with several different screens for menus, drawing graphs, writing programs and so on. The most important screen, where calculations are carried out, is called...
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| | 2 Using your calculator for basic arithmetic
- 2.1 The four rules of arithmetic Resource
- You are now going to use the four operation keys (on the bottom right-hand side of the TI-84 keyboard): , , and . You will also need the number keys and the key. If your calculator has an key, then...
- 2.2 Setting the number of decimal places Resource
- Calculators have different ways of fixing the number of decimal places displayed on the screen. So you may need to check your calculator instruction booklet here. Some calculators use the FIX function...
- 2.3 Some calculator conventions Resource
- Your calculator will interpret the order in which you press the keys, in a particular way. For example if you press the key sequence:
- 2.4 Bracket keys Resource
- A way of forcing a calculator to perform a calculation in a different order to that given in Section 2.3 is to use the bracket keys. For example the following sequence, on a scientific or graphics calculator:...
- 2.5 Editing Resource
- On many graphics calculators, there are keys which allow you to recall and change or ‘edit’ what you have entered. Suppose in tackling one of the above calculations you entered the following, by mistake:...
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| | 3 Some calculator puzzles
- 3 Some calculator puzzles Resource
- If you would like some more calculator practice, try your hand at the following puzzles. No answers are given because most of these activities have no single numerical answer. You may like to try them...
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| | 4 Squares and other powers
- 4 Squares and other powers Resource
- Multiplying a number by itself is called squaring it and there is a key on scientific and graphics calculators which does this. On the TI-84 the key is marked .
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- 5.1 Checking the receipt Resource
- Now consider some everyday situations in which a calculator is handy. Start with a familiar item, namely an old till receipt from a shop – perhaps found in the bottom of a cupboard.
- 5.2 Value Added Tax (VAT) Resource
- There is some information about Value Added Tax (VAT) on the receipt. VAT is charged on many goods purchased in the UK. At the time of the purchase on this receipt, the VAT rate was 17.5%. This means that...
- 5.3 Check the till VAT Resource
- Now return to the old till receipt and look at the section which deals with VAT.
- 5.4 Percentage increases and decreases Resource
- There is no single right way of calculating percentage increases or decreases. The next examples show two different approaches to the same problems.
- 5.5 Comparing price rises Resource
- While reading a newspaper article, I noticed some examples of how prices changed in the 10 years from 1984 to 1994. The table below shows the typical prices that you would have expected to pay in 1984...
- 5.6 An investigation Resource
- So far you have come across exercises and brain stretcher puzzles. The exercises are designed to help you practise certain skills and the puzzles are to get you to think a bit more generally. However now...
- 5.7 Water, water everywhere Resource
- Before reading on, spend a few minutes making some notes about what information you would need to check the claim and how you would go about getting the information.
- 5.8 Nor any drop to drink Resource
- On the basis of the figures and assumptions given in Activity 8, calculate the following, using your calculator where appropriate.
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| | 6 Large and small numbers
- 6.1 Scientific notation Resource
- Understanding how your calculator displays and handles very large and very small numbers is important if you are to interpret the results of calculations correctly. This section focuses on a way of representing...
- 6.2 Getting the feel of big and small numbers Resource
- Very small and very large numbers can be difficult to comprehend. Nothing in our everyday experience helps us to get a good feel for them. For example numbers such as 1099 are so big that if Figure 1 was...
- 6.3 More short investigations Resource
- Here are two short investigations involving large numbers for you to try. Please do not turn to the comments on these exercises until you have made some notes and had a go yourself.
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- 7.1 Introduction Resource
- As you have probably observed, there are many mathematical functions on your calculator, but most users only need to use a few of them regularly. This is an opportunity to be introduced to some of the...
- 7.2 Square roots Resource
- Earlier you met the square function and on most calculators the square root is the second function on the same key. Look to see if this is the case for your calculator and check the calculator handbook...
- 7.3 Square rooting a negative number Resource
- Another problem surfaces if you start with a negative number and try to find its square root. For example try to find the square root of −4 on your calculator. Depending upon how your calculator is set...
- 7.4 Reciprocals Resource
- There is a key on most scientific and graphics calculators which will give the reciprocal of a number. This is one over the number. So the reciprocal of 2 is or 0.5. The reciprocal of 4 is or 0.25. On...
- 7.5 The pi key Resource
- The value of the mathematical constant , pronounced pi, is stored on scientific and graphics calculators. The TI-84 has as the second function on the key, i.e. []. Other calculators may have it elsewhere,...
- 7.6 Consolidation Resource
- You have probably learnt quite a lot about your calculator by now. So this may be a good time to pause and consolidate that knowledge. Speaking mathematics aloud and explaining concepts to somebody else...
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- 8.1 Benefits of using a calculator Resource
- A calculator can help you learn mathematics – it is not a substitute for learning. In fact it can help you see the underlying mathematics in many ways, as in the previous section. Here are some other examples...
- 8.2 Advantages of the TI-84 calculator Resource
- The calculator takes the tedium out of long calculations with numbers that would be fearsome to do in your head or time-consuming to do with pencil and paper. For example, the calculator takes about the...
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| | 9 When to use the calculator
- 9 When to use the calculator Resource
- Despite the list of advantages given, here is a word of warning: a calculator is not a substitute for a brain! Even when you are using your calculator, you will still need to sort out what calculation...
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- 10 Conclusion Resource
- This unit has introduced you to some aspects of using a scientific or graphics calculator. However, in many ways, it has only scratched the surface. Hopefully your calculator will be your friend throughout...
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- 11 Open Mark quiz Resource
- If you have a TI-84 graphics calculator, then you might like to try the quiz associated with it. Some of the questions will make you think and you may need to refer to your calculator handbook, but this...
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| | References and Acknowledgements | |
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