Calculators | Texas Instruments - Science | Solver

Solver

By David Proctor,

Katanning SHS

If you use or quote from the following programs, please acknowledge the author above.

• Solver

• FinancialSolver

• Using the Equation Solver

Solver

This feature can be found in the   [MATH]   menu and is item   0
It is useful for solving formulae, such as the motion formulae in 8364 or Physics.

Example
A helicopter is ascending at the uniform rate of 7.75 m.s^-1.
A stone was dropped from the helicopter at an altitude of 345 m.
How long would it take for the stone to reach the ground?

Science information the student would know:

• initial velocity   =   u   =   -7.75 m.s^-1
• acceleration   =   a   =   9.80 m.s^-2
• displacement   =   s   =   345 m
• time   =   t   =   ?

One method of solving this problem would be to use the formula

s   =   ut   +   1/2at²

As this involves the solving a quadratic equation, some students find this difficult,
especially Year 10 students.

SOLVER provides an easy method of overcoming the maths behind the problem providing the student understands the physics behind it.

eg: the student go to solver by pushing   [MATH]   [0]

The screen looks like:

EQUATION SOLVER eqn:0 =

The student needs to enter the relevant formula (but first needs to modify it
so that it begins as 0 = ).

ie: change

s = ut + 1/2at2

to   0 = ut + 0.5at2 - s

The student then enters the values for the different variables into the relevant section on the screen (moving about using the scroll arrows). The last entry to be made is the unknown variable, ie   t in this problem.   t is calculated by first having the flashing cursor on t and then by following the following key strokes:

[ALPHA]   [ENTER]

(ie this is selecting the green button solve which is part of the ENTER key)

This function may be of assistance to some students who have difficulty with some mathematical procedures.