Graphing Calculator Help

For general help, I recommend the following resources:

• The manual that came with your calculator.
• Kevin Yokoyama's online tutorials
  
• Prentice Hall's online manuals
• Texas Instruments' online tutorials
  

I have compiled some additional instructions below for some of the specific calculator operations that we will use this semester:

• Intersection of curves
• Zeros of functions
• Maxima and Minima of functions

Intersection of Curves

1. Graph two curves so that the intersection is visible.
2. CALC -> INTERSECT -> ENTER
3. You will be asked to identify the "first curve" and "second curve". If you have only two curves in your graph, you can just press ENTER to answer each of these questions. If you have more than two curves showing, skip to the correct curves by using the up and down arrows (the current choice is always listed at the top of the graph screen).
4. Finally, you will need to provide a "first guess". Move the cursor with the left and right arrows to a point fairly near the intersection, and then press ENTER.
5. Read off the answer at the bottom of the graph screen.

Zeros of Functions (where the graph of a function crosses the x-axis)

1. Graph the function. Locate the zero that you want to calculate.
2. CALC -> ZERO -> ENTER
3. You will first be asked to identify a "left bound" for the desired zero. Move the cursor with the left and right arrows to a point a little to the left of the zero and press ENTER. You will then be asked to identify a "right bound" for the desired zero. Move the cursor with the left and right arrows to a point a little to the right of the zero and press ENTER.
4. Finally, you will need to provide a "first guess". Move the cursor with the left and right arrows to a point fairly near the zero, and then press ENTER.
5. Read off the answer at the bottom of the graph screen.

Maxima and Minima of Functions (where the graph of a function reaches a local maximum or minimum)

1. Graph the function. Locate the maximum or minimum that you want to calculate.
2. CALC -> maximum -> ENTER or CALC -> minimum -> ENTER, as appropriate.
3. You will first be asked to identify a "left bound" for the desired max or min. Move the cursor with the left and right arrows to a point a little to the left of the max or min and press ENTER. You will then be asked to identify a "right bound" for the desired max or min. Move the cursor with the left and right arrows to a point a little to the right of the max or min and press ENTER.
4. Finally, you will need to provide a "first guess". Move the cursor with the left and right arrows to a point fairly near the max or min, and then press ENTER.
5. Read off the answer at the bottom of the graph screen.

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