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.

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.

In the Calculus submenu of the TI-Nspire CAS, the CAS technology allows symbolic manipulation of algebraic expressions as well as numerical calculations just like in the Algebra submenu. The Derivative, Integral, and Limit commands form the cornerstone of the Calculus submenu. Here are some other items contained on the Calculus submenu that are worth mentioning, including a brief description of what they do: Tangent Line (& Normal Line): The syntax for this command is tangentLine(Expression, Variable, point).

Graphing in 3D on the TI-Nspire helps students to visualize what a function would look like in 3D (and you don’t need to wear uncomfortable glasses to see it). 3D Graphing allows you to enter an expression of the form z(x,y). To graph and explore in 3D, follow these steps: Press [DOC]→Insert→Graphs. Press [MENU]→View→3D Graphing.

A few TI-Nspire products are worth mentioning here. The functionality of TI-Nspire Computer Software has been expanded in recent years to include the functionality of some of these other Texas Instruments products: TI-Nspire Computer Link Software: Now obsolete, this software enables your handheld to communicate with your computer and take screen shots directly from the handheld.

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