Texas Instruments nspire cx User manual

CAS Calculators
Sean Surratt
TECM 2700
July 3, 2013

Table of Contents 3
Table of Contents
Table of Contents ............................................................................ 3
Introduction.................................................................................... 5
Basics ...............................................................................................7
Exact and Approximate Results.................................................. 9
Trig Functions ............................................................................. 9
Shortcut Keys .............................................................................10
Syntax.........................................................................................10
Understanding Variables ........................................................... 11
Storing Variables .................................................................... 11
Deleting Variables .................................................................. 11
Variable Naming Conventions................................................ 11
Symbolic Math ...............................................................................13
Symbolic Algebra .......................................................................15
Solving Equations...................................................................15
Factoring Expressions ............................................................15
Understanding Units..................................................................16
Unit Conventions....................................................................16
Unit Operations ......................................................................16
Symbolic Calculus ...................................................................... 17
Matrix/Vector/List ........................................................................19
Matrix.........................................................................................21
Creating a Matrix....................................................................21
Manipulating a Matrix............................................................21
Matrix Operations ..................................................................21
Vector ........................................................................................ 22
Vector Operations.................................................................. 22

4 CAS Calculators
Lists ........................................................................................... 22
Creating Lists......................................................................... 22
Manipulating Lists................................................................. 23
List Operations ...................................................................... 23
Introduction to Programming ...................................................... 25
Programs Make Life Easier ....................................................... 27
Make a Simple Program............................................................ 27
Index ............................................................................................. 29

Introduction 5
Introduction
This document will focus on the Texas Instruments nspire cx CAS
calculator. The ability to use a Calculator with a Computer Algebra
System is fundamental to be a successful engineering student
today. CAS calculators can solve long equations just by typing
them in and hitting solve. Students unskilled with this tool are at a
significant disadvantage. The best resource to learn about the TI
CAS is the TI nspire guidebook. For some the guidebook has a
steep learning curve. Reading this quick reference manual will
help lower the curve.
To download the guidebook visit the TI website at:
education.ti.com/en/us/guidebook/search/ti-nspire-cas

Basics
TI-nspire CX CAS 1

Basics 9
Exact and Approximate Results
Results that are not whole numbers will automatically be shown in
a fractional or symbolic form. An exact result is a fraction and an
approximate result is a decimal.
Nspire Example I
Trig Functions
Press µto find all the trig functions.
TI-nspire CX CAS 2

10 CAS Calculators
Shortcut Keys
There are hidden shortcuts on the keypad that are listed in the
user manual. There are a few shortcuts you should memorize:
Add a column
g@
Add a row
@
Integration template
g+
Derivative template
g-
Fraction template
/p
Underscore
/_
Shortcuts 1
Syntax
Syntax is very important in computational math. Syntax is
basically the set of rules the system uses to communicate. Access
the list of commands from the catalog.
TI-nspire CX CAS 3
Syntax examples appear at the bottom of the screen when scrolling
through the list. Press e·to see more examples of syntax. Use
the expressions template to avoid syntax errors.
TI-nspire CX CAS 4

Basics 11
Understanding Variables
Storing Variables
Variables are stored using the define or store commands.
Nspire Example II
Deleting Variables
Delete variables using the Del Var command.
Nspire Example III
Variable Naming Conventions
There are a few ways to name a variable.
single letter (x, y, z)
letter and number (x1,y1,z1)
name (observed, list, expected)

Symbolic Math

Symbolic Math 15
Symbolic Algebra
Solving Equations
Use the Solve command to save time working out algebra
problems. Use this command to solve one equation for one
variable or multiple equations for multiple variables
simultaneously
Nspire Example IV
Factoring Expressions
Use the Factor command to return an expression factored with
respect to a variable.
Nspire Example V
Expand expressions by following the same syntax as factoring.
Nspire Example VI

16 CAS Calculators
Understanding Units
Units are very similar to variables. A list of measurement units and
constants are built into the catalog. If you don’t see a unit you
want to work with you can create your own. You just follow the
same steps as you would when defining a variable, but with an
underscore in front of the “variable”.
Unit Conventions
When working with units in equations use parentheses to avoid
syntax and order of operations errors.
Unit Operations
To convert units use the Conversion Operator (¢).
Nspire Example VII
CAUTION: Temperature units must be converted using the
Temp Convert command.
TI-nspire CX CAS 5

Symbolic Math 17
Symbolic Calculus
The CAS automatically evaluates L’Hopital’s rule, integration by
parts, and countless other methods.
Use the limit, derivative, and integral, templates under the
expressions template button enter values in just as you would on
paper.
Nspire Example VIII
TI-nspire CX CAS 6

Matrix/Vector/List
Nspire Example IX