Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus C User manual

Getting Started with the
TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition
Graphing Calculator
This guidebook applies to software version 4.0. To obtain the latest
version of the documentation, go to education.ti.com/go/download.

ii
Important Information
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© 2012 Texas Instruments Incorporated

Contents
iii
Important Information................................................................... ii
Getting Started with the TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition.............1
Documentation Conventions......................................................... 1
Using the TI-84 Plus C in the Classroom ........................................ 1
Using Color on the TI-84 Plus C ..................................................... 1
TI-84 Plus C Keyboard..................................................................... 4
Turning On and Turning Off the TI-84 Plus C ............................... 7
Setting the Display Brightness....................................................... 8
The Home Screen............................................................................ 9
Setting Modes............................................................................... 16
Using the Clock............................................................................. 22
Equation Operating System (EOS™) ........................................... 23
Entering Expressions and Instructions......................................... 25
Pictures and Backgrounds............................................................ 29
Using Variable Names .................................................................. 30
Storing Variable Values ................................................................ 31
Recalling Variable Values ............................................................. 32
QuickPlot and Fit Equation.......................................................... 33
ENTRY (Last Entry) Storage Area................................................. 34
Menus............................................................................................ 36
VARS Menus.................................................................................. 39
Grouping files ............................................................................... 41
Special Features of the TI-84 Plus C............................................. 42
Other TI-84 Plus C Features.......................................................... 42
Interchangeable Faceplates ......................................................... 44
Battery Information ..................................................................... 45
Replacing TI Rechargeable Batteries........................................... 47
TI-84 Plus C Charging Station ...................................................... 49
Transferring the OS from calculator to calculator...................... 52
Error Conditions ........................................................................... 53
Linking Compatibility................................................................... 54
Texas Instruments Support and Service....................................... 57
Service and Warranty Information.............................................. 57

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Getting Started with the TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition 1
Getting Started with the TI-84 Plus C Silver
Edition
Documentation Conventions
This Getting Started guide is similar to Chapter 1 of the TI-84 Plus C Silver
Edition guidebook. Several of the chapters in the full guidebook are
referenced in this Getting Started guide. The full guidebook is available
as a free download from education.ti.com/go/download.
In this document, the TI-84 Plus CSilver Edition graphing calculator is also
referred to as the TI-84 Plus C.
Using the TI-84 Plus C in the Classroom
The TI-84 Plus C shares many features with the TI-84 Plus. However, some
features you may be accustomed to using in the classroom may differ.
Some of these differences are listed here.
• TI-Navigator™ software supports the TI-84, TI-84 Plus, and TI-84 Plus
SE. TI-Navigator™ software does not support the TI-84 Plus C.
• TI-84 Plus C does not work with TI-Presenter™ video adapter or
ViewScreen™ overhead panel, but the TI-84 Plus C view option in the
TI-SmartView™ software allows you to project the graphing
calculator emulator to the classroom.
• Some files and variables are compatible between the TI-84 Plus C and
the TI-84 Plus family of graphing calculators. For more information
on file compatibility, see Linking Compatibility later in this chapter.
• The TI-84 Plus C graphing calculator comes equipped with a Li-ion
rechargeable battery. To ensure battery life, store the graphing
calculators in the TI-84 Plus C Charging Station, or connect individual
graphing calculators to a wall charger.
Warning: RAM memory will be lost if the battery charge is lost. You
should back up or archive your variables if your battery power gets
low.
For more information on the batteries and the charging station, see
Battery Information and TI-84 Plus C Charging Station later in this
chapter.
Using Color on the TI-84 Plus C
The TI-84 Plus C graphing calculator has many color options and a high
resolution display that allows more information to be shown on the
screen. The TI-84 Plus C uses color in the following ways:

2 Getting Started with the TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition
• Y= editor for line color.
• DRAW commands for line color, such as vertical lines, circles, and text
on the graph screen.
• The graph format screen for grid, axes, or border color, and applying
a background image or color.
• Statistical Plots.
The color options are selected using a spinner, which can contain various
options depending on the feature. Press |and ~to scroll through the
color options to set a color.
Note: Take care to choose appropriate color combinations for the graph
areas so that all features are visible.
You can reset the calculator to its default settings, including color
settings, by pressing y L 7 2 2.
Using Color on the Graph Screen
The examples below show how to set line color on the Y= editor using
the spinner, and how to set a Background Image for a graph.
Enter an equation in the Y=
editor.
1. Press o.
2. Press k„ ¡ Ã 6.

Getting Started with the TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition 3
To set the line color in the Y=
editor:
3. Press y||| to select
the color/line box to the left
of Y=, and then press Í.
The spinner dialog box
becomes active.
4. Press ~ ~ ~to select
magenta.
5. Press †.
Note: The thick line style is
the default. It can be
changed by pressing | or
~.
6. Press †to highlight OK and
then press Í.
To set a Background Image:
7. Press y..
Set grid color, axes, and
border color as desired.
8. Press }or † as necessary to
highlight Background.
The spinner dialog box
becomes active.
9. Press ~ as necessary to select
the desired Background
Image or color.
Note: Your pre-loaded
Image Var may be different
than the one displayed.
Note: To create Background
Image Vars, use the free
TI Connect™ software to
convert and send images to
your TI-84 Plus C graphing
calculator.

4 Getting Started with the TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition
TI-84 Plus C Keyboard
Generally, the keyboard is divided into these zones: graphing keys,
editing keys, advanced function keys, and scientific calculator keys.
Keyboard Zones
Graphing—Graphing keys access the interactive graphing features. The
third function of these keys (t ^-a) displays the shortcut menus,
which include templates for fractions, n/d, quick matrix entry, and some
of the functions found on the MATH and VARS menus. When some
features are active, you may also see a shortcut menu in the tb
location for special shortcuts available in that particular feature.
Editing—Editing keys allow you to edit expressions and values.
Advanced—Advanced function keys display menus that access the
advanced functions.
Scientific—Scientific calculator keys access the capabilities of a standard
scientific calculator.
10. Press rto see the graph
and trace points.
Note: You can manipulate the
graph to “fit” an object in the
Background Image Var. You can
also use QuickPlot and Fit
Equation to fit an equation to a
shape. (See QuickPlot later in
this chapter.)

Getting Started with the TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition 5
TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition
Using the Color.Coded Keyboard
The keys on the TI-84 Plus C are color-coded to help you easily locate the
key you need.
The light colored keys are the number keys. The keys along the right side of
the keyboard are the common math functions. The keys across the top set
up and display graphs. The Œkey provides access to applications such as
Polynomial Root Finder and Simultaneous Equation Solver, Inequality
Graphing, and more.
Note: Catalog Help is an application on the TI-84 Plus, but is built into
the TI-84 Plus C operating system. The Catalog Help contains syntax
information for most menu items, and most of the functions in the
catalog. To use Catalog Help on the TI-Plus C, select a menu item and
then press Ã.
The primary function of each key is printed on the keys. For example,
when you press , the MATH menu is displayed.
TI-84 Plus CSilver Edition
Graphing Keys
Editing Keys
Advanced
Function Keys
Scientific
Calculator Keys

6 Getting Started with the TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition
Using the yand ƒKeys
The secondary function of each key is printed above the key in the same
color as the ykey. When you press the ykey, the character,
abbreviation, or word printed above the other keys becomes active for
the next keystroke. For example, when you press yand then , the
TEST menu is displayed. This guidebook describes this keystroke
combination as y :.
The flashing cursor changes to Þwhen you press y. The Þ may show in
the cursor location, or in the status bar on the top of the screen.
Many keys also have a third function. These functions are printed above
the keys in the same color as the ƒkey. The third functions enter
alphabetic characters and special symbols, as well as access SOLVE and
shortcut menus. For example, when you press ƒand then , the
letter Ais entered. This guidebook describes this keystroke combination
as ƒ[A].
If you want to enter several alphabetic characters in a row, you can press
y 7 to lock the alpha key in the On position and avoid having to
press ƒmultiple times. Press ƒa second time to unlock it.
The flashing cursor changes to Øwhen you press ƒ, even if you are
accessing a function or a menu. The Ømay show in the cursor location, or
in the status bar on the top of the screen.
2nd key indicator on the status bar
Alpha key indicator on the status bar