CAS TI-Nspire User manual

Quick Start Guide
–
TI-NspireTM CAS
Software
by
Bernhard Kutzler
(V1.4)

Table of Contents
0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1
1 Starting TI-Nspire™ CAS ............................................................................................ 3
2 Introduction to the Calculator ....................................................................................... 7
3 Introduction to Graphing ........................................................................................... 33
4 Introduction to Interactive Geometry .......................................................................... 45
5 Introduction to Lists & Spreadsheet ........................................................................... 57
6 Introduction to Notes ................................................................................................. 69
7 Introduction to Data & Statistics ................................................................................. 77
8 Introduction to Combining TI-Nspire™ CAS Applications – Part 1 ............................ 83
- Basics ...................................................................................................................... 83
- Calculator and Graphing .......................................................................................... 95
- Calculator and Lists&Spreadsheet ............................................................................ 98
- Geometry and Lists&Spreadsheet .......................................................................... 100
9 Introduction to Combining TI-Nspire CAS Applications – Part 2 .............................. 103
- Data Collection ...................................................................................................... 103
10 Appendix: Factory Default TI-Nspire CAS ............................................................... 109
Preface
The purpose of this book is to make TI-Nspire CAS easily and quickly accessible, especially
for teachers and students. Many thanks to David Stoutemyer who polished the language of this
text and made valuable suggestions for improving the original manuscript.
Bernhard Kutzler, September 2007 & October 2008

Introduction
Question: Why should we use technology for teaching and learning mathematics?
Answer: Because it can help students.
Technology is for automating tasks. Instead of walking to the grocery shop, we can go
there by car. This saves us from having to walk between our home and the shop and from
having to carry the groceries. For some people, using a car for their shopping is a convenience
which saves them time and energy which they can use for other activities – such as reading a
book. For people who are physically challenged, using a car for their daily shopping may be a
matter of survival.
This example shows two types of technology use: Amplification and compensation. Here
is another example: Optical instruments such as telescopes and microscopes amplify our natu-
ral eye sight so that we can see things that we cannot see otherwise. Optical instruments such
as eye-glasses compensate poor eyesight so that people with poor eyesight can see things
which people with normal eyesight can see without glasses.
TI-Nspire CAS is a powerful mathematics tool suited for teaching and learning. It combi-
nes several applications under one roof: A Computer Algebra System (CAS), a graphing soft-
ware, an interactive geometry system, a spreadsheet, an interactive statistics system, a text
editor, a data collection interface, and a programming environment.
TI-Nspire™ CAS enables new approaches in teaching, learning, and understanding mathe-
matics by providing seamless integration of numeric, algebraic, graphic, geometric, and sta-
tistic capabilities enhanced with the support of data collection, programming, and text editing.
You will find that many topics can be treated more efficiently and effectively with TI-
Nspire™ CAS than by using traditional methods or isolated products. TI-Nspire™ CAS is
available in three compatible versions – as computer software under Windows™ and under
Mac OS™ and as a handheld.

2 Introduction
There are also three corresponding versions of the TI-Nspire™ technology without CAS
functionality published under the name TI-Nspire™.
This book gets you started with TI-Nspire™ CAS by independent study. First, install TI-
Nspire™ CAS on your computer. Then, starting with the first chapter you will learn step by
step how to use the program. Follow all instructions and examples. The text leads you through
several mathematical topics to learn how to use TI-Nspire™ CAS. Paragraphs starting with
the symbol
 give instructions about what you should do on your computer. Hundreds of
screen images ensure that you will not get lost on this journey. This book is written so that
each introduction to an individual application of TI-Nspire CAS can be used independently
(and most of them also with TI-Nspire™).
All you need to run TI-Nspire™ CAS is a PC compatible computer with Windows 2000
(with Service Pack 4), Windows XP (with Service Pack 2), or Windows Vista™; or a
PowerPC, G4 or G5 with Mac OS™ X 10.4 or 10.5.
It is assumed that you know how to use the computer and the Windows™ or Mac OS™
operating system. The screen shots in this book were produced from TI-Nspire™ CAS
running on Windows XP™. If you are running TI-Nspire™ CAS with a different version of
Windows™ or under Mac OS™, then some of the screens may appear slightly different.
This book gets you started. A complete reference to all features is included with the
software as online help.
This text was written for TI-Nspire™ CAS Version 1. 4.11654. If you use a
later version of TI-Nspire™ CAS, some of the screen images may be differ-
rent.
Have fun reading and discovering.
For users of TI-Nspire™ :
Most parts of this book do not use the CAS component of TI-Nspire ™ CAS. Therefore you can
use this text also with TI-Nspire™. Only part of the “Introduction to the Calculator” is CAS
specific. All chapters that refer to “TI-Nspire” (rather than “TI-Nspire CAS”) are equally
valid for TI-Nspire™ and TI-Nspire™ CAS.
TI-Nspire Resources
For resources about how to integrate TI-Nspire technology into the classroom visit the
following websites:
- www.timath.com
- compasstech.com.au/TNSINTRO/TI-NspireCD
- groups.google.com/group/tinspire
- education.ti.com/uk (choose Online Resources from the Professional Development menu)

Starting TI-Nspire CAS
This text assumes that you use a factory default TI-Nspire CAS. Only then (and when you use
WINDOWS XP) will your screen images fully match those in this book. If you just installed TI-
Nspire CAS, it is a factory default version. If you use a version of TI-Nspire CAS that was
used by someone else earlier, we recommend that you turn it into an almost factory default
version now. The Appendix gives instructions on how to do this.
 Start TI-Nspire CAS by double clicking on the TI-Nspire CAS icon. If there is no such
icon on your computer’s desktop or task bar, you probably will find TI-Nspire CAS on the
Start menu or via Start>All Programs in the TI Tools folder.
The following screen appears after a few seconds:
The TI-Nspire CAS screen comprises (from top to bottom):
• the Titlebar
• the Menubar
• the Command Toolbar
• a thumbnail preview pane at the left and a work area at the right
See what applications are available:

4 Starting TI-Nspire CAS
 Move the mouse pointer into the work area, and then click the right mouse button.
= =
These are the five main applications of TI-Nspire CAS.
 If you move the mouse button over the Insert menu button in the Command Toolbar, and
then click the left mouse button, …
=
… you will see two more applications to choose from.
The Calculator application is a computer algebra system (CAS) as known from programs such
as Derive or from handhelds such as the TI-89, TI-92, or Voyage200.
The Graphs & Geometry application is a double application. It is a graphing application as
known from graphing calculators such as the TI-83 or TI-84. It is also an interactive geometry
application as known from interactive geometry programs such as Cabri Geometry. Having
both applications integrated with each other creates a powerful “geo-graphical” environment
which goes far beyond what the individual applications usually offer.
The Lists & Spreadsheet application is a spreadsheet as known from programs such as Micro-
soft Excel. In addition to the usual cell-based logic it also offers column-based logic as known
from the list editor in a TI-89, TI-92, or Voyage200.
The Notes application is an easy-to-use word processor, which allows modes and styles parti-
cularly useful for annotating mathematical and educational work.
The Data & Statistics application is an easy-to-use package for statistical analysis as known
from programs such as Fathom.
The Program Editor application is an easy-to-use and very convenient environment for writing
and updating user defined programs and functions.
The Data Collection application is an interface for collecting real world data. It supports 34
sensors manufactured by Vernier.

Quick Start Guide – TI-Nspire CAS (Software) 5
The following chapters provide independent introductions to the five main applications. The
two applications contained in the Graphs&Geometry application are treated separately.
A major strength of TI-Nspire CAS is the “roof” that connects the individual applications. The
first part of the “Introduction to Combining TI-Nspire CAS Applications” introduces you to
this “roof”. The second part introduces you to the collecting of real world data.
The Program Editor is not treated in this book.
TI-Nspire CAS Teacher Edition
There are two versions of the TI-Nspire CAS Software: the standard edition and the teacher
edition. In this section we describe the specific features of the teacher edition.
 If available, then start the TI-Nspire CAS Teacher Edition.
The teacher edition offers an emulation of the handheld. You can choose between two views.
 Open the View menu and from therein open the TI-SmartView Emulator submenu.

6 Starting TI-Nspire CAS
 Invoke the Handheld command.
Now you see a picture of the TI-Nspire CAS handheld. You could go through the exercises of
this book in this mode. Press a key by moving the mouse pointer above the key, and then
clicking the left mouse button. You can enter numbers, letters, and special symbols also via
the computer keyboard.
 Invoke the View>TI-SmartView Emulator>Handheld + Side Screen command.
In addition to the handheld you now see also an enlarged version of the handheld screen. This
view is particularly useful when a teacher teaches students using handhelds. This view is ideal
to show how to operate the handheld.
 Go back to standard software view with View>Normal.