TI-84 Plus CE Graphing Calculator For Dummies, 3rd Edition
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You can use your TI-84 Plus calculator to sort data lists and solve a typical standardized test question. Put the following set of numbers in order from least to greatest:

image0.jpg

To sort a data list, follow these steps:

  1. Press [STAT][ENTER] and enter the data in L1.

    See the first screen. Notice, after entering the first number and pressing [ENTER], your calculator evaluates the square root and displays its approximate value, –1.414.

    If list L1 is out of view, press [STAT][5][ENTER] to use the SetUpEditor command. If there is unwanted data in list L1, use the arrow keys to place the cursor on the L1 list name and press [CLEAR][ENTER].

    image1.jpg
  2. Press [STAT].

  3. Press [2] to sort the list in ascending order.

    SortA means sort ascending and SortD means sort descending.

  4. Enter the list name.

    To sort a default named list such as L1, press [2nd][1] to enter its name. If you’re sorting a list that you named, press [2nd][STAT] to access the List NAMES menu, use the up- and down-arrow keys to scroll to the list you want, and press [ENTER].

    An alternative method to type the name of a list you named is to press

    image2.jpg

    to insert the letter L and then enter the name of the list.

  5. Press [ENTER] to sort list L1.

    See the second screen.

  6. Press [STAT][ENTER] to view list L1.

    See the third screen. It is easy to see the answer to the question posed is:

    image3.jpg

In most cases, it is a good idea to keep the rows of data intact when sorting. Follow these steps to sort data lists while keeping the rows intact:

  1. Press [STAT][ENTER] and enter the data in L1.

    See the first screen.

    image4.jpg
  2. Press [STAT].

  3. Press [2] or [3] to sort the list in ascending or descending order, respectively.

  4. Enter the list name that you want to sort on.

    To sort list such as L2, press [2nd][2]. If you’re sorting a list that you named, press [2nd][STAT] to access the List NAMES menu, use the up- and down-arrow keys to scroll to the list you want, and press [ENTER].

  5. Press [,] between the data lists you want to sort concurrently.

  6. Enter the other list name that you want to sort concurrently.

    You may sort more than two lists concurrently; just keep putting commas between the list names you enter.

  7. Press [ENTER] to sort the lists.

    See the second screen.

  8. Press [STAT][ENTER] to view list L1.

    See the third screen.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book author:

Jeff McCalla is a mathematics teacher at St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis, TN. He cofounded the TI-Nspire SuperUser group, and received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science & Mathematics Teaching.

C.C. Edwards is an educator who has presented numerous workshops on using TI calculators.

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