<p>Okay so, first off do they make you clear your ti 84 when taking the ACT? If not, what programs should i get to help me. So far I have a quadratic equation solver. What else should I get? Please help me Math Nerds!!</p>
<p>They don’t clear your calculator before the test. Most of the proctors don’t even know how to use graphing calculators let alone clear them. They just check to make sure it’s not a prohibited model. You could make use of these things on your calculator:</p>
<p>1.) the “Sto>” button. </p>
<p>Just put in a value and store it into a variable, then that variable can be used for the problems. It’s great for questions like this:</p>
<p>F(x)=(X+3)^2-14X+16X-3, find F(3)</p>
<p>This could be done by hand, but it’s much simpler to do on a calculator. </p>
<p>2.)the “Y=” graphing. </p>
<p>Put in equation(s) and you get an instant visual of the problem. This can be useful if you know what the problem is asking for or need some quick points. </p>
<p>Here are a few formulas that might be of use to you. most of them are pretty easy, but if you want, you could put them in a calculator</p>
<p>-Circumference of a circle
-Area of a circle
-Quadratic formula
-Slope
-Midpoint formula
-Distance formula</p>
<h2>-Standard form of Conics, most importantly the parabola and Circle.</h2>
<p>You could also use the calculator to store some of the more obscure formulas that creep up from time to time. The calculator can help you a lot on the ACT so long as it doesn’t become a crutch. Hope this helped a bit.</p>
<p>Cmon guys…I know you got tricks…</p>
<p>The math on the ACT is just designed to trip you up. I’d suggest working different problem types and become familiar with how to do them, so if you see a problem like them on the real thing, you’ll have a plan to solve them.</p>
<p>I’m guessing you’re familiar with how to write programs on a calculator. You could throw in a few like the midpoint formula, distance formula, and the quadratic formula to help get through a few simple problems without fear of a simple mistake.</p>
<p>On some problems, it’s much easier to backsolve. It’s easy to tell which problems you can do it on, and it can save you time. Here’s an example:</p>
<p>The ratio of men to women at a party is 3:2. If there are a total of 120 people at the party, how many of them are women?</p>
<p>A. 36
B. 48
C. 72
D. 80
E.100</p>
<p>Try out C. 36*5=180, so you know this isn’t the right answer. Any number greater than C wouldn’t work since that would only give bigger answers, meaning you can knock out D and E. That leaves A and B. We only have to plug in one more answer. If it works, then it works. If not, then the other answer is correct by process of elimination.</p>
<p>B.24*5=120. B works and is the correct answer.</p>
<p>Lots of practice helps. If you feel stuck, try filling in stuff you can figure out. Write the equations of lines if you need to, put in angles and lengths even if they don’t directly answer the question. Small things might help jog your memory.</p>
<p>If you can’t remember a formula such as the area of a trapezoid, break the figure into smaller shapes like triangles that you can solve, then just combine them all at the end.</p>
<p>Pace yourself accordingly. If you think a problem is going to take a bit of time, then skip it. If you don’t know how to do it, skip it. Since the easiest questions give you the same number of points as the hardest questions, there’s no point in going in numerical order the ending up having to guess on questions you know how to do because you don’t have enough time.</p>
<p>If there are questions that call for multiple equations, put them in your graphing calculator and that can help give you more information. A lot of them ask where they cross or “which graph represents the equation?” Problems like that are easy once you just see the problem.</p>
<p>As you do practice problems, remember the tricks and patterns you see. If it requires a formula you didn’t know, learn it, write it down, or even put it in your calculator, so if it comes up again, you’ll be ready for it.</p>
<p>Come up with simple shortcuts to help yourself power through the problems faster.
Ex. Simplify: (X^2+6X+9)/(X+3)</p>
<p>There are questions like this all the time. Even if you don’t know how the top part factors, more likely than not, one of the factors will cancel with the denominator, so you can try (X+3)</p>
<p>(X+3)(X+3)/(X+3)=(X+3)</p>
<p>that one was pretty easy, but when there are bigger ones, it can help save time. Little tricks like this can not only help get to a correct answer, but can also save you time.</p>
<p>Look at your subscores and see which things you’re missing the most on. It can help you see where you need to focus your attention the most. Also, be sure to look at the problem and what it’s asking for. It’s a common trick for them to have multiple step problems and have the answer for the first half of it. That way you forget about the other half when you see your answer is there.</p>
<p>Most problems can be solved pretty easily if you know what they are asking for. You can graph the equation to match something, use X sto-> to solve things, or even write programs to solve it. (A lot of people will flame about this one on CC.) A calculator is only good if you know how to use it though.</p>
<p>The multiple choice aspect of the test can be used to your advantage. So just practice up to become more familiar with the test, pace yourself on it, and work carefully. Of course, this is easier said than done and comes with time. This isn’t as much a math test as it is “how many of our traps have you seen before?” </p>
<p>—This was a post I made before and it has a few tricks here too.—</p>
<p>The ACT Math section isn’t designed for you to use your calculator effectively, it’s designed to make you think creatively and be able to solve problems fast. The calculator is only useful if you know what you are doing and know how to apply concepts. Otherwise, it is useless. </p>
<p>I got a 35 on the ACT math and I can safely say that I only used my calculator for questions that go into decimals. The 1 question i got wrong was a plane geometry diagram I misread</p>
<p>Like I said, the calculator is helpful when it doesn’t become a crutch.</p>
<p>Got a 36 in math thanks to stacking my TI84 SE with programs that solve midpoint, slope, equations of lines, systems of equations, quadratic solvers, polynomial factoring, formulas for area/volume/perimeter, and most things dealing with geometric shapes. i usually finish math with 18 minutes left to check answers</p>
<p>^See that’s what I want!!</p>
<p>Statlanta, how’s you do that man. can you help me?</p>
<p>Too bad my calculator is banned by ACT (HP50G)… But I took a $10 Sharp calculator to the test and got a 34… I would say fumbling with the HP 50G actually ruined my SAT Math II score</p>
<p>Tricks slow me down. Honestly I say just get a 36 regularly, the tricks take just as much time as doing your own shortcuts, that’s my experience</p>
<p>^Aight, thanks for the advice bro. That’s what I was thinking as well.</p>
<p>There is a book out now that lists how to put those programs in your calculator by hand for those who don’t know how. It is on Amazon – just search for ‘ACT calculator’ or something like that on Amazon. Good luck!</p>
<p>How in the world do you put these programs on your calculator???</p>
<p>Graphing calculator is not necessary for the ACT. I got 99% percentile with a scientific calculator.</p>
<p>The ratio of men to women at a party is 3:2. If there are a total of 120 people at the party, how many of them are women?</p>
<p>A. 36
B. 48
C. 72
D. 80
E.100</p>
<p>I think a faster way for this one would be to do 120/5=24; 24*2=48. That gives you the answer automatically without plugging in each choice.</p>
<p>Well, maybe it’s not neccessary but, i would like to know how its done. There are so many things that i have forgotten about and, have trouble trying to remember them on the ACT.</p>
<p>I know the ti-89 is fine for the sat and subject tests, but does anyone know off the top of their head if its ok for the act?</p>
<p>The Ti-89 is explicitly banned lol. It’s pretty obvious because you can just solve( …) the whole ACT that way -_-</p>
<p>Ok, just looked up the book I mentioned earlier. It’s called “Boost Your Score: Underground Calculator Programs for the ACT Test.” It has good reviews on Amazon and basically gives you step-by-step instructions on how to program a bunch of stuff into your calculator for the ACT. Hope that helps!</p>