Steve Ouellette

The TI-Nspire device is the most sophisticated handheld graphing calculator available, allowing users to display and evaluate values symbolically, and to reuse the same equations across multiple applications. Because it’s so sophisticated, navigating its features can sometimes be confusing. It helps to know a variety of methods of achieving your aims with the device.

Many functions can be graphed by accessing commands commonly used in the TI-Nspire Calculator application. The greatest integer function, y = int(x), is one such graph, which you create by following these steps: Position the cursor next to the first available function line. Open the Catalog. If necessary, press [1] to activate the first category containing the alphabetical listing of all commands, functions, and symbols.

Sometimes when you're using a computer, you get into typing mode. Call it laziness if you want, but you might not really feel like accessing a symbol palette or catalog to insert the symbol or command that you need. Incidentally, the first seven shortcuts also work on the handheld: To enter π, type pi. To enter θ, type theta.

Shortcuts are available to help you quickly navigate documents on your TI-Nspire, allowing you to move from problem to problem, page to page, application to application, and even to change your view. They are as follows: Display previous page: Ctrl-◄ Display next page: Ctrl-► Switch between applications

Is the display on your TI-Nspire too bright, not bright enough, or need to be turned off? These shortcuts will modify the display on your TI-Nspire quickly: Increase contrast: Ctrl-+ Decrease contrast: Ctrl-– Power off: Ctrl-On

A TI-Nspire file that holds problems and pages is a document. You can manage your TI-Nspire documents with these shortcuts or use them to access the Document and Context menus: Access the Documents menu: Doc Access the Context menu (right-click): Ctrl-Menu Open Document: Ctrl-O Close Document: Ctrl-W

The TI-Nspire handheld device has seven applications from which to choose — Calculator application, Graphs application, Geometry application, Lists & Spreadsheets application, Data & Statistics application, Notes application, and Vernier DataQuest. Calculator application: In this application, you perform calculations.

To open a file on the TI-Nspire, you must be in the My Documents view. Simply highlight a specific file and press [ENTER] or [CLICK]. You can also highlight a file and press [MENU]→Open (or [CTRL][O]). The first page of the new document is displayed. To go back to the My Documents view, press [ON]→My Documents.

Very soon after you create a new document on the TI-Nspire, it’s a good idea to save the file. The quickest and easiest way to save your new file is to press [CTRL][S] (shortcut for [DOC]→File→Save). Because this file wasn’t saved previously, a dialog box opens, giving you complete control over the filename and the folder in which to save.