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HELPFUL TIPS FOR USING THE TI-84 ON THE ACTThis guide is intended to give you a few helpful tips/strategies for using your graphing calculator on the ACT. While everything on the ACT can be done without the use of a graphing calculator (and many times it is much easier to solve the problems without a calculator), it has been my experience that effectively using the graphing calculator (specifically, the TI-83/84) can save you much time and ensure correct solutions on this test.Some information about the ACT calculator policyPermitted Calculators:You should use a TI-83 or TI-84You may NOT use the ZoomMath Application (this includes the free trial version) as it will result in your test being discarded if you are caught.This applies as well to any programs that perform algebraic operations.You are NOT permitted to use a TI-89, TI-92, or TI-nSpire CASA list of acceptable calculators is listed on the ACT web-site Determining if Your Answer Is CorrectBy using the TEST feature of your calculator, you can confirm if any answer is correct. Since the ACT is a multiple choice test, this is especially beneficial. Example: Expand (x+3)(2x+4)=We could easily find this by binomial expansion (FOIL). x+32x+4=2x2+4x+6x+12=2x2+10x+12. To determine if this is correct, use “=” from the test menu.Since this equals 1, we know our answer is correct. If our answer had been incorrect, we would have seen a 0.Solving EquationsWe can solve any equation by graphing. REMEMBER LYNCH’S LAW #1: “WHEN IN DOUBT, GRAPH IT OUT!!!!”Example: 3x2+2x-4=0This could be done algebraically using the Quadratic Formula, but we can also solve by graphing and looking for ZEROS (x-intercepts, roots, solutions, etc.).The two solutions are x=-1.535 and x=0.869We can also solve equations using the SOLVER in the MATH menu.Example: 4-3x= -3. In order to use the solver, the equation must be set equal to 0. Add 3 to both sides. 7-3x=0. Now we can use the SOLVER. Remember, we do not press ENTER. We need to press SOLVE which comes from “2ND” “ENTER”.Finding Common AreasRemember that your calculator has most of the common area formulas in APPS.Evaluating ExpressionsWe can always store values as variables.Example: Evaluate the expression xy-z+zy-x-yx-z when x=-13, y=25, z=-27Rather than do this by hand, we can store the values and simplify.Other APPS That You May Find UsefulALG1PRT1 This APP won’t really help on ACT test day, but it does provide some activities, lessons, and demonstrations that may help you review concepts from Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 as you prepare for the test.CABRIJR This is almost identical to Geometer’s Sketchpad. If you are familiar with Geometer’s Sketchpad, you may find this useful on problems involving shapes. If you are NOT familiar with Geometer’s Sketchpad, this program will likely take longer to use and cause more problems than it’s worth on test day.CONICS This APP will help you graph Conic Sections (Circles, Ellipses, Parabolas, Hyperbolas) and help change equations from general to standard form.GEOMASTRThis is another version of Geometer’s Sketchpad. Refer back to my comments about CabriJr. They apply here as well.POLYSMLTThis is an APP that will solve Polynomial equations. This is a very useful APP that will save you much time, as opposed to solving polynomials algebraically by factoring or another algebraic method. We are going to solve x3-2x2+3x-4=0 using this APP. Choose 1:Poly Root Finder. This tells us that we have one real solution (x=1.65) and the other two roots are imaginary. You will need to find the imaginary solutions by hand. Radian vs. DegreeIt is important to always check your mode when doing trig problems. Make sure your calculator is set to the appropriate mode.STATThings you can find and do under the “STAT” button.Find a linear, quadratic, exponential, etc. regressionFind things such as mean, median, mode, standard deviation, varianceChemical Equation BalancerThis APP is for Science. I do not know all the details about it, so you may want to talk with a science teacher to get more information, but this APP is designed to help you balance equations in a Chemistry class.Guess My CoefficientGuess My Coefficients provides an entertaining way for students to study and learn how to identify the coefficients of a function from a graph.This is another APP that will NOT necessarily help you on test day, but it will serve as an excellent way to practice how coefficients affect a graph.Solve ItThis is another APP that is not designed to help you on test day. This APP was created to help students solve basic Algebra problems, designed in a “game” format.What Is My Angle?This APP is designed to help students understand angles in real-world settings. This a good review of some of the basic skills you learned in Geometry. However, this is NOT an APP that you would want to use on Test Day. Rather, use this in preparation for the ACT as a way to review concepts from Geometry.Polynomial Simulator Number 2This APP is designed to find the roots of polynomial equations and to solve simultaneous equations. This is VERY similar to the Polynomial Simulator listed above, but this one will also solve for Imaginary solutions. Notice that we solved the exact same polynomial (x3-2x2+3x-4=0) as used in our previous APP, but now we have all 3 solutions (x1 is real, x2 and x3 are the imaginary solutions). Thus, our solutions are x=1.65, .17+1.55i, and .17-1.55i. You will need to use your arrows to see all parts of the answer.There are many other beneficial and time-saving ways to use your TI-84 on the ACT; most of which we have already done together in class this year. The information presented above is just a friendly reminder of how you can save time and improve your ACT score by using the technology available. However, none of the information presented here will help you if you do not have a strong understanding of the mathematics involved. Please see me if you would like a copy of my “ACT Mathematics Test Preparation Guide” with other common information that you will need to achieve the best score possible. Study Hard! And Good Luck!Visit the following Web-sites for more information on using your TI-84 on the ACT: ................
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