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.

With the TI-Nspire, you can evaluate mathematical expressions directly from the primary keys (as defined by the functions or characters located directly on the keys themselves) and the secondary keys (as defined by the colored functions or characters located toward the top of some keys). For example, [x2] is the primary key for squaring an expression and the secondary key for taking the square root of an expression.

TI-Nspire gives you the option of adding geometric objects (points, perpendicular lines, circles, polygons, and so on) to your Graphs page. These objects can add some type of functionality to your graph or serve as a way of enhancing the overall look of the Graphs page. Here is how the Perpendicular tool can be used to investigate slope: Open a new Graphs page by pressing [DOC]→Insert→Graphs.

Press [MENU]→Graph Type→Parametric to switch to parametric graphing mode. Alternatively, move to the entry line and press [CTRL][MENU]→Parametric. Next, follow these steps: Type the x-component equation, using t as the independent variable. TI-Nspire uses the notation x1(t) for the first x-component, x2(t) for the second x-component, and so on.

Before purchasing TI-Nspire Computer Software, download a free 30-day trial of the TI-Nspire Student Software from TI’s website. Click the Downloads & Activities drop-down menu, and choose Apps, Software & Updates. Two more drop-down menus appear. For Technology, choose TI-Nspire, and for View, choose Math & Science Computer Software (click the Find button to submit).

Occasionally, things go wrong on the TI-Nspire. If your handheld doesn’t turn on, the key presses don’t respond properly, or the display is garbled, you need to take action. Try putting new batteries in first, but if that doesn’t work, follow these steps to access the Maintenance menu: Remove the keypad and remove one battery from each column of batteries for 2–5 seconds.

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