Calculators | Texas Instruments - Mathematics | Introduction

Programming the TI-83

Introduction

Students need to be able to write programs for their graphics calculators so that useful formulae can be stored to assist in routine calculations. The following activities are a sequence of activities to introduce both teachers and students to the TI 83. The activities have been used in the classroom with Year 9 academically talented students and for the professional development of teachers.

To introduce the concepts needed for basic programming a simple activity of comparing two numbers is examined. A flow chart has been included to show the logic involved in planning the steps needed to develop the program.

Task 1

Program the graphics calculator to input and compare 2 numbers. The program should be user friendly so that anyone can follow the instructions. Your teachers will assist you in writing this program.

Task 2

Write a program, to input either the two sides opposite the right angle of a right triangle or the hypotenuse and one other side.

Use the Pythagorean theorem, to find the missing sides of this right triangle.

Task 3

Write a program to allow the user to enter the three coefficients a, b, c in the quadratic equation ax² + bx + c = 0.

(a) Determine the solution to the quadratic equation, stating the number of solutions.

(b) Calculate and display the turning point and Y intercept of the associated parabola
y = ax² + bx + c.