How to Draw a Line in a Scientific Calculator

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This wikiHow teaches you how to master the basics of using a scientific calculator. Scientific calculators are must-have tools for higher math such as Algebra, Trigonometry, and Geometry.

1. 1

   Find the important functions. There are several functions on the calculator that will be essential for Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Calculus, and more. Find the following functions on your calculator:

   Basic Operations ^[1]

   Operation	Function
   +	Addition
   -	Subtraction (not negative)
   x	Multiplication (There is often an x key for variables as well)
   ÷	Division
   ^	Raise to the power of
   yx	y to the power of x
   √ or Sqrt	Square root
   ex	Exponential
   sin	Sine function
   sin-1	Inverse sine function
   cos	Cosine function
   cos-1	Inverse cosine function
   tan	Tangent function
   tan-1	Inverse tangent function
   ln	Log to the base of e
   log	Log base 10
   (-) or neg	Denotes negative number
   ()	Parentheses for denoting order of operations
   π	Inserts pi
   Mode	Switches between degrees and radians

2. 2

   Familiarize yourself with secondary functions. While the bulk of the most common functions will have their own keys (e.g., the SIN key), things like inverse functions (e.g., SIN-1) or less-common functions (e.g., the square root √) will be listed above other keys.

   • Some calculators have a "Shift" key instead of a "2ND" key.
   • In many cases, the color of the "Shift" or "2ND" key will match the color of the function's text.

3. 3

   Always close your parentheses. Whenever you type a left parenthesis, you must close it with a right one; similarly, if you type a total of five left parentheses, you'll have to close them with five right ones.

   • This is important when entering larger calculations, as leaving out a parenthesis can cause the equation to return a far different answer than you should have.

4. 4

   Switch between degrees and radians. You can change between displaying values in terms of degrees (fractions of 360) or radians (decimals using pi as the basis) by pressing the MODE key, using the arrow keys to select RADIANS or DEGREES, and pressing the ENTER button.

   • This is important when performing Trigonometry calculations. If you notice that your equations are returning decimal values instead of degrees (or vice versa), you'll need to change this setting.

5. 5

   Learn how to save and restore. Saving your results and pulling them back later is an essential skill for dealing with longer problems. There are a couple of different ways to use stored information:

   • Use the Answer function to recall the last displayed answer to an equation. For example, if you just entered 2^4, typing in -10 and pressing ENTER would subtract 10 from the solution.
   • Press STO after retrieving your preferred answer, press ALPHA, select a letter, and press ENTER. You can then use that letter as a placeholder for your answer.^[2]

6. 6

   Clear the screen. If you ever need to exit a menu or remove several lines' worth of equations from the calculator screen, you can press the CLEAR button near the top of the keypad to do so.

   • You can also press the 2ND or Shift key and then press whichever button has "QUIT" listed over it (in most cases, this is the MODE key).

1. 1

   Try a simple square root. Test out the button order on an easy and quick problem. For example, you might try taking the square root of 9; you should already know that the answer will be three, so this is a great tip to use in the middle of a test if you forget which order you're supposed to be pressing buttons:

   • Find the square root (√) symbol.
   • Either press the square root key or press the SHIFT or 2ND button and then press its key.
   • Press 9
   • Press ENTER to solve the equation.

2. 2

   Take the power of a number. In most cases, you'll do this by entering the first number, pressing the carrot (^) button, and entering the number to which you want to raise the first number.

   • For example, to calculate 2², you would type in 2^2 and then press ENTER.
   • To ensure the number order is correct, try performing a simple test, such as 2³. If you get 8 as the answer, then you did it in the right order. If you got 9, then you actually did 3².

3. 3

   Practice the trigonometry functions. When you are using the SIN, COS, or TAN functions, you will have to keep in mind two different things: the order of the button presses, and radians versus degrees.

   • Perform a simple SIN function with an easy to remember answer. For example, the sine of 30° is 0.5.
   • On a scientific calculator, to find the sine of 30° for example, you type in 30, then sin get 0.5. If you got a different answer, it probably means that your scientific calculator is not in degree mode. To put it in degree mode, look for a button that says DRG which stands for Degrees, Radians, and Gradients. If you push the DRG button several times, you will see that the mode in your view screen will change between degrees, radians, and gradients. Push the DRG button until you see degrees or DEG indicated in the view screen. Once you have degrees in the view screen, then type in 30 then SIN and you should get 0.5.

4. 4

   Practice entering longer equations. Things can get a bit more complicated when you start entering longer equations into your calculator. You will need to take order into consideration, and will often make use of the () keys. Try entering the following equation into your calculator: 3^4/(3+(25/3+4*(-(1^2))))

   • Note how many parentheses are necessary to keep the formula intact. Proper parentheses use is essential to successfully using the calculator.

5. 5

   Look for complex functions in the MATH menu. While things like SIN, square roots, inverse exponents, and pi are often either represented by keys or secondary text above keys, you can find more advanced functions (e.g., factorials) in the MATH menu. To use the MATH menu, do the following:

   • Press the MATH button.
   • Use the up and down arrows to scroll up and down through a category of equations.
   • Use the right and left arrows to scroll right and left through the different categories.
   • Press ENTER to select an equation, then enter the number or formula to which you want to apply the equation.
   • Press ENTER to calculate the whole equation.

1. 1

   Understand that not all scientific calculators allow graphing. If your calculator doesn't have a Y= button on it, you most likely can't use the calculator to graph a standard "y=mx+b" (or similar) plot.^[3]

   • You can check your calculator's documentation to determine whether or not it supports graphing, or you can just look for the Y= button near the top of the calculator's keypad.

2. 2

   Press the "Y=" button. It's typically at the top of the calculator's keypad. Doing so brings up a list of Y values (e.g., "Y1", "Y2", etc.) which represent different graphs.

3. 3

   Enter your equation. Type in the equation (e.g., 3x+4), then press ENTER. You should see the equation appear to the right of the "Y1" value.

   • For the X part of the equation, you'll press the X,T,Θ,n key (or similar).

4. 4

   Press GRAPH . This button is usually at the top of the calculator's keypad.

5. 5

   Review the results. After a moment, you should see the graph's line appear on-screen. This will show you the curve of the graph and its general position.

   • You can view the graph's individual points by pressing the TABLE (or Shift/2ND and then GRAPH) button and then scrolling through the resulting table.

Add New Question

• Question

  How do I square something?

  

  Type the number you want to square and then press the "x2" button (small 2 on upper right of the x). If the calculator doesn't have such a button, you just have to multiply the number times itself (e.g., 13x13).

• Question

  How do I turn off my scientific calculator?

  

  Shift+ AC.

• Question

  What are the functions of a calculator?

  

  A scientific calculator can calculate angles using sine, cosine, and tangent. It can change the a number from decimal to hexadecimal or octal. It can also solve equations. Some scientific calculators allow you to store your own formula as well. Most are capable of calculating fraction, index and root.

• Question

  How do I use the log function on a scientific calculator?

  

  The log is the inverse function of raising a number by a power. It takes the input number (base) and the output number and calculates which number the base must be raised to the power of to produce the output -- e.g. x^n=y --> logy(x) = n (the y would be given in subscript) and this is stated "Log base y of x equals n." If you have a modern calculator, there should be a log button with two blank rectangles allowing you to input the base and the output to find the power. On an older calculator, however, you will need to use a "log-law" to convert it into an equation involving the log function (meaning log base 10). Do this by typing logy/logx to give answer n.

• Question

  How do I use pi?

  

  There is button on your calculator that tells you the value of pi. It is marked with the Greek letter pi, which has two legs and a flat top like the bottom half of a capital H. If you want to calculate the approximate value of pi without pressing the pi button, it is about 22/7.

• Question

  How can I convert fractions to decimals?

  

  You can convert fractions to decimals by dividing the numerator by the denominator.

• Question

  Since my Casio calculator displays only a square root and a third root button, how do I get fourth, fifth, sixth, seven, etc. roots?

  

  Take the logarithm of the number and divide it by the root required, and then press the antilogarithm function key. This will give the required answer. For example, to find the 5th root of 1048576, take its logarithm and divide by 5. Take the antilogarithm of this result and you will have your answer.

• Question

  How do I change the sign (+/-) of an answer?

  

  You press the minus button (not the one near the equals button) which is inside brackets on one button.

• Question

  Can a cube root be found with a scientific notation calculator?

  

  Yes. If your calculator is FX-991ES, press shift, then the X raised to a box.

• Question

  How do I calculate fractions or convert to fractions on a scientific calculator?

  

  Sometimes there is a button with two boxes, one on top of the other, with a line in the middle. The top box represents the numerator, and you need to press the down arrow to access the denominator. If the key is not present, you need to just use the divide key. (Your calculator should have come with a manual that might point out a specific button for this function if you can't find the one I described.)

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• Every scientific calculator is laid out differently, so take some time to familiarize yourself with where everything is. Refer to the manual if you can't find a specific function that you know should be there.

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• Older scientific calculators (e.g., ones which can't graph or type) may not be able to access some of the advanced functions such as the MATH menu.

About This Article

Article Summary X

To operate a scientific calculator, locate the primary functions, like square root, sine, and tangent, since you'll be using these frequently. Additionally, familiarize yourself with the secondary functions above the primary keys, which can be accessed by pressing the "Shift" or "2ND" key. When dealing with longer problems, use the answer function to recall the last displayed answer to an equation. If you need to clear the screen, press the "Clear" button near the top of the keyboard. To learn how to switch between degrees and radians on a scientific calculator, keep reading!

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How to Draw a Line in a Scientific Calculator

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Operate-a-Scientific-Calculator

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