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The calculator.
| TI-83 | |
| Brand name | Texas Instruments |
| Model number | TI-83 |
Picture of TI-83 keyboard [link opens in new window]. (Provided by T Le, co-author of the page for TI-85 and TI-86 calculators.)
| Logic system. Does your calculator use algebraic or RPN (reverse Polish notation) logic? How do you tell? Typically, an algebraic calculator has an = key, used to find a result; an RPN calculator has an ENTER key, used for an initial entry. To add two numbers (say, 2 & 3) on an algebraic calculator, you type the keys "2 + 3 =". On an RPN calculator, you type "2 ENTER 3 +". The sequence is what matters, not the key name; some algebraic calculators (especially the more complex, graphics calculators) use ENTER instead of =. |
| TI-83 | |
| Algebraic or RPN? | Algebraic. TI graphics calculators have an ENTER key, but use it like an ordinary = key, to complete a calculation. |
| Algebraic calculators can be subdivided into AOS and DAL. If you know which type yours is, you can write that here. If not, you will figure that out later on the form. | DAL |
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Shift keys. Shift keys are used to get the second (or third) function for a particular key. If there are two shift keys, list both. |
| TI-83 | |
| What is the label on the "shift" key(s) | yellow-shift: 2nd
green-shift: alpha (to access the "green" function of the keys, mainly the alphabet) |
| Where is the shift key? | both: upper left |
Scientific notation; entering. Identify the key used to enter the exponent. (It is usually EE or EXP, or similar.)
* A special case concerns entering a number that starts with 1x in scientific notation: do you need to enter the 1? Try it... Calculate 1x1012 * 2. Do it twice, once with the first 1 and once without it. Do you need to enter the 1 to get the correct answer, 2x1012?
* The key for making an exponent negative is the same key used for entering negative numbers.
| TI-83 | |
| What is the label on the key for entering exponents? | EE (2nd comma) |
| Where is that key? | middle, above 7 |
| When entering a number that starts with 1x in scientific notation, do you need to enter the 1? (e.g., 1x1012) | no |
| What is the key for making an exponent negative? | (-) |
| Where is that key? | bottom row, next to decimal point |
Scientific notation; display.
| TI-83 | |
| Most scientific calculators allow you to "force" the display to use (or to not use) scientific notation.
Many calculators allow you to set the number of decimal places displayed. (Some calculators also have an option for "Engineering notation", which is a variation of Scientific notation. Not important for most people.) |
Press MODE. Scroll through the menus with the up/down arrows to select each group of options. Use left/right arrows to select the option; press ENTER to accept each option.
Choose type of numeric display: Normal, Sci, or Eng (first menu). Choose number of decimal places to display: Float (= no fixed number) or a specific value (second menu). When done choosing options, press 2nd MODE to exit. |
Logarithms (and anti-logs). In intro chem we most often use base 10 logs (log10), for example with pH. The log10 is the power of 10 of the number. For example, the log10 of 1000 is 3; and then the antilog10 of 3 is 1000.
* On some calculators, you press the LOG key before the number, and on some you press the number then the LOG key.
| TI-83 | |
| How is the log10 key labeled? | LOG |
| How is the base 10 antilog key labeled? | 10x. It is 2nd-shift LOG. |
| To take the log10 of 1000 which do you enter first, the number or the LOG key? | LOG. That is, enter LOG 1000. |
| The preceding step serves to distinguish AOS and DAL calculators. If your calculator uses algebraic notation, and if you enter the number first, then it is AOS; if you enter the LOG first, it is DAL. The same pattern holds for other one-key functions, such as antilog and square root. | |
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Base e logs (loge or ln) are called natural logs. We do not use these in intro chem, but you are likely to use them if you go much beyond that. | |
| How are the keys labeled for natural logs and antilogs? | LN
anti-log: ex. It is 2nd-shift LN. |
Miscellaneous. These are functions we do not use in intro chem, but which you are likely to use in other math and science courses. Briefly noted here.
| TI-83 | |
| Angles: degrees or radians
(Some calculators also have an option for "grad". The grad is 0.9 degree, so that a right angle is 100 grad. Not commonly used.) |
To set the calculator to work in radians or degrees:
Press MODE. Scroll through the menus with the up/down arrows to select each group of options. Then use right/left arrows to select the options. Choose Radian or Degree. Press ENTER to actually select the option. When done choosing options, press 2nd MODE to exit. For converting an angle from one to another: If the calculator is in radian mode, you can convert from degrees by: (enter the number) 2nd ANGLE select the degree sign, labeled "1" ENTER The result will be in radians. Similarly, if the calculator is in degree mode, you can convert from radians by: (enter the number) 2nd ANGLE select "^r", labeled "3" (a superscript "r") ENTER The result will be in degrees. There is also a ' (minutes sign; apostrophe) to enter minutes as well as degrees (labeled "2"). You can also use those to enter the arguments of trig functions in the right units, e.g. if the calculator is in radian mode then sin(30°) still gives the right answer. |
| Polar vs rectangular coordinates | No conversion function. |
You. Please provide your name and e-mail, so I can check back with you if there are questions (and maybe have you proofread the web page for your calculator). We will not list your name at the web site without your explicit permission. We will not make your e-mail available in any case.
| May we list your name in the collection (at the web site), to give you credit for providing this information?
If yes, how would you like your name listed? ("handles" ok.) | yes
Greg Pearce |
Main page for "Using your scientific calculator". (Links for other calculators posted here; links for other sources of information about calculators, including some possible sources for manuals.)
Form for submitting information about your calculator, (If you just want to ask me a question, you can use the "Contact information" link below.)
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Last update: March 26, 2019