How to Enter Logarithms on Your Graphing Calculator

Most graphing and scientific calculators have the ability to calculate logarithms, but you might come across questions which require you to use a different base than your calculator’s built-in functions. Thankfully, there is a simple formula called the “change of …
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Filed under Difficulty: Easy, TI-83 Plus, TI-84 Plus, TI-89, TI-92 Plus | 7 Comments

SAT Calculator Strategies – SAT Test Prep #5

There are a lot of misconceptions about calculator use on the SAT. This article covers some basic strategies on how to use your calculator “smarter.” It also attempts to dispel some of the myths you’ve probably heard about calculators and …
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How to Round Numbers on the TI-84 Plus and TI-89

Sometimes it’s useful to work in units with only a certain number of decimals. For example, if you’re doing money calculations, you probably don’t want to think about fractions of cents. If you want to change the number of decimals …
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Filed under Algebra, Difficulty: Easy, TI-83 Plus, TI-84 Plus, TI-89, TI-92 Plus | Leave a comment

SAT Prep #4: Using Your Calculator’s Fraction Features

Both the TI-83/TI-84 Plus and the TI-89 have built-in features for dealing with fractions, which can help to solve many of the fractions problems on the SAT. For example, on the TI-84, you can convert a decimal into a fraction …
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Ace the SAT – Our New Test Prep Book!

We’re very proud to announce Calcblog’s test preparation book, Ace the SAT Using Your TI Calculator: Using the TI-84 Plus and TI-89 to Crack the SAT Math Section! This book is packed with tips, tricks and test taking strategies on …
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SAT Test Prep #3: Calculating Sale Prices, Percentages and Discounts

One of the ways you can improve your SAT is score is identifying problems that may seem simple but are actually written to trick you. If you are rushing through a test, you may miss out on easy points. Consider …
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Filed under Algebra, Difficulty: Easy, SAT, Test Prep, TI-83 Plus, TI-84 Plus, TI-89 | 1 Comment

How to Change the Batteries on Your TI-83 Plus, TI-84 Plus or TI-89

At some point while using your graphing calculator, you will turn on your calculator and be greeted with one of the following messages: Unlike in many portable electronics, changing your calculator’s batteries does not simply mean swapping them out. In …
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Filed under Difficulty: Easy, TI-83 Plus, TI-84 Plus, TI-89, Voyage 200 | 22 Comments

Factoring Polynomials on the TI-89 and Voyage 200

The TI-89, TI-92 Plus, and Voyage 200 offer two built-in functions for easily factoring expressions and trinomials/polynomials into their component parts. This tutorial explains when to use these functions and how to use them to solve simple equations and polynomials.

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How to Create a Simple Quadratic Formula Program on the TI-89 and Voyage 200

Like the TI-83 Plus and TI-84 Plus, the TI-89, TI-92 Plus, and Voyage 200 graphing calculators all have their own integrated programming language, TI-BASIC. While this language is somewhat more complex on the TI-89/V200 series than the the TI-83 Plus …
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Filed under Algebra, Calculator Program, Difficulty: Medium, TI-89, TI-92 Plus, Voyage 200 | 22 Comments

Quick Tip: How to Clear Variables on the TI-89, TI-92 Plus, and Voyage 200

Sometimes, it is useful to store specific values in the letter variables (a-z) on your device, especially if you will be using that specific value over and over again. For example, you can store the value of Planck’s constant on …
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Filed under Difficulty: Easy, TI-89, TI-92 Plus, Voyage 200 | 1 Comment