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TI-Nspire instructions and walkthroughs

Step-by-step walkthroughs for the TI-Nspire in DP Applications and Interpretation SL.

Each card is one task. Follow the numbered steps, then use the check line to make sure your answer makes sense.

Important: do not use the Scratchpad for anything. Always work in a document, so your work is saved and you can check it.

For this course the calculator must always be in degrees. Float 6 is recommended. Give every exam answer to at least 3 significant figures.

Menu names and key positions can differ a little between TI-Nspire models and software versions. Where a card says “Check this against your own calculator”, look at the menu on your screen and follow the name rather than the number.

Getting started

Settings and basics

Open a new document and add a Calculator page
  1. Go to the Home screen
  2. Start a new document
  3. Add a Calculator page
  4. Type the calculation
  5. Press enter
  6. Add another page later
Set degrees and Float 6 (do this in every document)
  1. Go to the Home screen
  2. Open Document Settings
  3. Choose Float 6
  4. Choose Degree
  5. Select OK
  6. Check with sin(30)
Check the calculator is in degrees
  1. Look at the top of the screen
  2. If it says RAD, change it
  3. Test with sin(30)
  4. Test with cos(60)
Write a number in standard form
  1. Type the number part
  2. Press the EE key
  3. Type the power of 10
  4. Press enter
  5. Try a negative power
Clear the memory
  1. Store 5 in x
  2. Use the stored value
  3. Open the Actions menu
  4. Choose Clear a-z
  5. Check it worked
  6. Clear one variable only
  7. Clear the screen history

Spreadsheets and tables

Enter data in lists
  1. Open a new Lists & Spreadsheet page
  2. Choose Add Lists & Spreadsheet
  3. Name column A
  4. Name column B
  5. Type the x values
  6. Type the y values
Edit and clear cells in a spreadsheet
  1. Move to the cell you want to change
  2. Type the new value
  3. Select the whole column
  4. Clear it
Fill a column with a formula
  1. Open a new Lists & Spreadsheet page
  2. Choose Add Lists & Spreadsheet
  3. Name the columns and type the x values
  4. Move to the formula cell of column B
  5. Type the rule
  6. Read the new column
Make a table of values in a spreadsheet
  1. Name the columns and enter the x values
  2. Move to the formula cell of column B
  3. Type the rule
  4. Read the table
Show a table of values
  1. Open a new Graphs page
  2. Choose Add Graphs
  3. Type the function in the entry line
  4. Show the table
  5. Scroll to see more values
  6. Change the step size

Topic 1: Number and algebra

Solving equations

Solve an equation
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Open the menu and choose Algebra
  4. Choose Solve
  5. Type the equation, a comma, then the variable
  6. Press enter and read the answers
Numerical solve (nSolve)
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Choose Numerical Solve from the Algebra menu
  4. nSolve( appears on the entry line
  5. Type the equation, a comma, then the variable
  6. Press enter and read the answer
  7. Find a different solution if needed
Solve a system of equations
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Open the menu and choose Algebra
  4. Choose Solve System of Equations
  5. Enter the number of equations and the variables
  6. Type each equation in its own box
  7. Press enter and read the answers
Find the roots of a polynomial
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Open the menu and choose Algebra
  4. Choose Polynomial Tools, then Find Roots of Polynomial
  5. Enter the degree and the coefficients
  6. Press enter and read the roots

Sequences and series

List the first terms of a sequence
  1. Open a Calculator page
  2. Open the catalogue
  3. Find seq(
  4. Type the rule, then n, start and end
  5. Press enter
Find the sum of a series with the Σ template
  1. Open the templates
  2. Choose the Σ (sum) template
  3. Fill in the expression
  4. Fill in the start and end values
  5. Press enter
Solve for n in a sequence or series
  1. Open the Algebra menu
  2. Choose Solve
  3. Type the equation
  4. Add the variable and press enter

Finance Solver

Open the Finance Solver
  1. Open a Calculator page
  2. Open the Finance menu
  3. Choose Finance Solver
  4. Fill in the money boxes
  5. Fill in the yearly boxes
  6. Find FV
Compound interest: find the future value
  1. Open a Calculator page
  2. Open the Finance menu
  3. Choose Finance Solver
  4. Enter N and the rate
  5. Enter PV and Pmt
  6. Enter PpY and CpY
  7. Move to FV and press enter
Loans and savings: find the payment or the time
  1. Open a Calculator page
  2. Open the Finance menu
  3. Choose Finance Solver
  4. Enter N, the rate and PV
  5. Leave Pmt empty and set FV to 0
  6. Enter PpY and CpY
  7. Move to Pmt and press enter

Topic 2: Functions

Graphs

Draw a graph and set the window
  1. Open a new Graphs page
  2. Choose Add Graphs
  3. Type the function in the entry line
  4. Open the Window / Zoom menu
  5. Choose Window Settings
  6. Press enter to apply the window
Find zeros, maximum, minimum and intersections
  1. Open a new Graphs page
  2. Choose Add Graphs
  3. Type the function in the entry line
  4. Open the Analyze Graph menu
  5. Choose Zero
  6. Click to the left of the zero, then to the right
  7. Repeat for the second zero
  8. Choose Minimum and set the bounds
Plot points from a table
  1. Open a Lists & Spreadsheet page
  2. Choose Add Lists & Spreadsheet
  3. Name the columns and type the values
  4. Open a Data & Statistics page
  5. Choose the x list for the bottom axis
  6. Choose the y list for the side axis
  7. Zoom to fit all the points

Models and regression

Other regressions: quadratic, cubic, exponential, sinusoidal
  1. Choose the model from the shape
  2. Open Stat Calculations
  3. Find Exponential Regression
  4. Fill in the lists
  5. Read a and b
  6. A quadratic works the same way

Topic 3: Geometry and trigonometry

Trigonometry

Sine, cosine and tangent: find a side
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Check the angle mode is Degree
  4. Set up the sine ratio first
  5. Type 12 ×, then open the trig menu
  6. Choose sin, then type the angle
  7. Press enter and read the answer
Inverse trig: find an angle
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Check the angle mode is Degree
  4. Set up the sine ratio
  5. Open the trig menu and choose sin⁻¹
  6. Type the ratio and close the bracket
  7. Press enter and read the answer
The sine rule
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Check the angle mode is Degree
  4. Write the sine rule as an equation
  5. Open the menu and choose Algebra, then Solve
  6. Type the equation, a comma, then the letter b
  7. Press enter and read the answer
The cosine rule
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Check the angle mode is Degree
  4. Write the cosine rule as an equation
  5. Open the menu and choose Algebra, then Solve
  6. Type the equation, then the letter c
  7. Press enter and read the answers
Area of a triangle with sine
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Check the angle mode is Degree
  4. Write the area formula
  5. Type the fraction and the two sides
  6. Choose sin and type the angle
  7. Press enter and read the answer
Arc length and sector area
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Set up the arc length formula
  4. Type the fraction, then the rest
  5. Press enter for the arc length
  6. Now type the sector area formula
  7. Press enter for the sector area

Coordinate and 3D geometry

Distance between two points
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Set up the distance formula
  4. Open the square root
  5. Type the differences
  6. Press enter and read the answer
  7. Press ctrl then enter for a decimal
Midpoint of a line segment
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Set up the midpoint formula
  4. Find the x-coordinate
  5. Press enter
  6. Find the y-coordinate
Gradient and equation of a line
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Set up the gradient formula
  4. Type the gradient
  5. Press enter for the gradient
  6. Open Solve to find the y-intercept c
  7. Type the equation with the point (2, −1)
  8. Press enter and read c
Distance across a cuboid (3D diagonal)
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Set up the 3D diagonal formula
  4. Open the square root
  5. Type the three squares
  6. Press enter
  7. Press ctrl then enter for a decimal

Topic 4: Statistics and probability

Binomial and normal distributions

Normal pdf: the height of the curve
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Open the menu
  4. Go to Probability, then Distributions, then Normal Pdf
  5. Fill in the three boxes
  6. Press enter and read the answer
Binomial: P(X = k)
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Open the menu
  4. Go to Probability, then Distributions
  5. Choose Binomial Pdf
  6. Fill in the three boxes
  7. Press enter and read the answer
Binomial: P(a ≤ X ≤ b) and P(X ≤ k)
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Open the menu
  4. Go to Probability, then Distributions
  5. Choose Binomial Cdf
  6. Fill in the four boxes
  7. Press enter and read the answer
  8. Change the bounds for other questions
Normal: find a probability
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Open the menu
  4. Go to Probability, then Distributions, then Normal Cdf
  5. Enter the lower and upper bounds
  6. Enter the mean and standard deviation
  7. Press enter and read the answer
Normal: find a value from a probability
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Open the menu
  4. Go to Probability, then Distributions, then Inverse Normal
  5. Enter the area
  6. Enter the mean and standard deviation
  7. Press enter and read the answer

Statistics

One-variable statistics
  1. Open a Lists & Spreadsheet page
  2. Choose Add Lists & Spreadsheet
  3. Name the list and type the data
  4. Open the menu and choose One-Variable Statistics
  5. Choose 1 list
  6. Choose the list and where the results go
  7. Read the mean, the sums and the standard deviations
  8. Scroll down for the five-number summary
Box plot
  1. Open a Data & Statistics page
  2. Choose Add Data & Statistics
  3. Choose your list for the bottom axis
  4. Open the Plot Type menu and choose Box Plot
  5. Read the box plot
  6. Read the values with the pointer
Histogram
  1. Open a Data & Statistics page
  2. Choose your list for the bottom axis
  3. Choose Histogram from Plot Type
  4. Open the Bin Settings
  5. Set the bin width and the alignment
  6. Read the bar heights
Cumulative frequency
  1. Open a Lists & Spreadsheet page
  2. Type the upper boundaries and the frequencies
  3. Make the running total in column C
  4. Check the last running total
  5. Draw the scatter plot
  6. Join the points
  7. Read the median and the quartiles

Hypothesis tests

Chi-squared goodness of fit
  1. Open a Lists & Spreadsheet page
  2. Name the lists and enter the data
  3. Add a Calculator page
  4. Open Stat Tests and choose χ² GOF
  5. Fill in the boxes
  6. Press enter and read χ² and the p-value
Chi-squared test for independence
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Type the observed matrix and store it
  4. Open Stat Tests and choose χ² 2-way Test
  5. Enter the matrix name
  6. Read χ², the p-value and degrees of freedom
  7. Check the expected values
Two-sample t-test
  1. Open a Lists & Spreadsheet page
  2. Name the lists and enter the data
  3. Add a Calculator page
  4. Open Stat Tests and choose 2-Sample t Test
  5. Choose Data as the input and press OK
  6. Fill in the boxes
  7. Press enter and read t and the p-value
Pearson’s correlation test
  1. Open a Lists & Spreadsheet page
  2. Name the lists and enter the data
  3. Open Linear Regression (mx+b)
  4. Fill in the boxes
  5. Read r

Correlation and linear regression

Linear regression and the correlation coefficient r
  1. Start with your data in lists x and y
  2. Open the Statistics menu
  3. Choose Stat Calculations
  4. Choose Linear Regression (mx+b)
  5. Fill in the lists
  6. Read m, b and r
Draw a scatter plot with the regression line
  1. Open a Data & Statistics page
  2. Choose Add Data & Statistics
  3. Choose the x list
  4. Choose the y list
  5. Open the Analyze menu
  6. Choose Regression, then Show Linear (mx+b)
  7. Read the line
Spearman’s rank correlation
  1. Enter the data in lists a and b
  2. Rank each list by hand
  3. Type the ranks in columns C and D
  4. Open Linear Regression (mx+b)
  5. Use the rank lists
  6. Read r

Topic 5: Calculus

Differentiation

Gradient at a point (numerical derivative)
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Open the menu and choose Calculus
  4. Choose Numerical Derivative at a Point
  5. Fill in the boxes
  6. Press enter and read the answer
  7. Check with a second point if you want to
Draw the gradient function
  1. Open a new Graphs page
  2. Choose Add Graphs
  3. Type f1 in the entry line
  4. Open a new entry line
  5. Type the derivative of f1
  6. Set the window so both graphs fit
  7. Compare the two graphs
Tangent line at a point
  1. Open a new Graphs page
  2. Choose Add Graphs
  3. Type the function
  4. Open Analyze Graph and choose Dy/Dx
  5. Move to x = 2 and read the gradient
  6. Find the equation on a Calculator page
  7. Draw the tangent to check it
Stationary points: maximum and minimum
  1. Open a new Graphs page
  2. Choose Add Graphs
  3. Type the function
  4. Set the window
  5. Choose Maximum
  6. Set the bounds around the top
  7. Choose Minimum and set the bounds
Rate of change in a context
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Open Calculus, then Numerical Derivative at a Point
  4. Enter the function and the time
  5. Press enter and read the answer
  6. Find the volume at the same time

Integration

Definite integral
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Open Calculus, then Numerical Integral
  4. Fill in the boxes
  5. Press enter and read the answer
  6. Try the integral template instead
Area under a curve
  1. Open a new Graphs page
  2. Choose Add Graphs
  3. Type the function
  4. Set the window
  5. Choose Analyze Graph, then Integral
  6. Set the lower and upper limits
  7. Read the area
Area between two curves
  1. Open a new Graphs page
  2. Choose Add Graphs
  3. Type both functions
  4. Find where they meet: Intersection
  5. Read both intersection points
  6. Choose Bounded Area
  7. Read the area
Displacement from a velocity graph
  1. Open a new Calculator page
  2. Choose Add Calculator
  3. Open Calculus, then Numerical Integral
  4. Integrate v from 0 to 4 for the displacement
  5. Integrate the absolute value for the distance
  6. Draw v to see why they differ