<p>I thought of starting a new thread for those who aren't familiar with using a graphing calculator like me. Please share any good tricks on using them to do well for math IIC. </p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Also, can anyone recommend programs to install into the calculator that can help?</p>
<p>You don’t really need programs to install, what I think anyone would prefer is to 1) learn how to use the features of their calculator and 2) use a program called TiProgramEditor for TI 83/84 (You’ll need to find it, it’s not in the TI website but was made by TI) to create notes to store formulas. You can also do this on the calculator itself but it is very tedious.</p>
<p>Courses to learn how to use TI calculators: <a href=“404 - No Page Found”>404 - No Page Found;
<p>Anyway, here is how to do Sigma notation in the TI83/84</p>
<p>sum(seq(<formula>,X,<first term=“”>,<last term=“”>,<increment> (No spaces)</increment></last></first></formula></p>
<ol>
<li>[2nd] List, Right button twice, 5</li>
<li>[2nd] List, Right button once, 5</li>
<li>Type in formula then put in comma, X, then another comma</li>
<li>Type in the first term, usually one or zero then another comma, last term, another comma
(If you’re calculating sum of infinite series you can just put in a large number like 20 for last term)</li>
<li>Type in the increment, usually 1</li>
</ol>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>sum(seq(1/X!,X,1,20,1</p>
<p>This will give you the constant e</p>
<p>^ Just use the inbuilt sigma mode…</p>
<ol>
<li>MATH -> 0</li>
<li>Fill in the blanks</li>
<li>Press Enter</li>
</ol>
<p>eeforme, I know the TI-84 has build in function of sigma notation but I don’t know its syntax, and the Catalog program in my Calculator doesn’t tell me how to use it. I actually done a Google search about this and this is the technique I learned to do summation.</p>
<p>
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<p>The built-in sigma function came with the MathPrint OS update (I think it’s 2.55MP). If you have the non-MathPrint OS (I think it’s 2.53), there’s no built in sigma notation.</p>
<p>The firmware version of my TI-84 Sliver is 2.53MP. I guess I should view the firmware changelog. </p>
<p>I also know that in 2.55MP, there is a wizard for the functions so you don’t need to memorize the syntax. To me however, it’s not really a big deal.</p>
<p>I see. Thanks for the clarification. I’m actually using the TI-84+ SE keypad on my Nspire. MEM -> ABOUT reads 2.54MP, so that must be the first MathPrint OS.</p>
<p>@ Techhexium - I used sum(seq()) before I stumbled across sigma mode, too. It’s not a huge time saver, but it helps a bit.</p>
<p>If your OS has “MP” in it, then there’s a built-in sigma function. If not, then it’s not there. I’m not too familiar with the exact OS numbers, though. :P</p>