Calculator User Manual

24
Chapter 1: Operating the TI
-
86
01OPER.DOC TI-86, Chap 1, US English Bob Fedorisko Revised: 02/13/01 2:18 PM Printed: 02/13/01 2:59 PM Page 24 of 2201OPER.DOC TI-86, Chap 1, US English Bob Fedorisko Revised: 02/13/01 2:18 PM Printed: 02/13/01 2:59 PM Page 24 of 22
Entering Expressions and Instructions
Entering an Expression
An expression is any combination of numbers and variables that serve as arguments for one
or more functions. On the TI
-
86, you typically enter an expression in the same order as you
would write it on paper. For example,
p
r
2
,
5 tan xStat
, and
40((
L
5+3)
N
(2+3))
are expressions.
You can use an expression on the home screen to
calculate an answer.
In most places where a value is required, you can use an
expression to enter the value.
For example, enter an expression as a window variable value
(Chapter 5). When you press
#
,
$
,
b
, or
.
, the TI
-
86
evaluates the expression and replaces it with the result.
To enter an expression, you enter numbers, variables, and functions from the keyboard and
menus (page 31). When you press
b
, the expression is evaluated (regardless of the cursor
location) according to EOS order-of-evaluation rules (Appendix), and the answer is displayed.
To enter the expression 3.76 ÷ (
L
7.9 +
‡
5) + 2 log 45 and
then evaluate it, you would press these keys:
3
`
76
F D a
7
`
9
\ - ˆ
5
E \
2
<
45
b