Quad4, TI-83/84 Summary: You can program your TI-83/84 to solve quadratic equations, and this page shows

you the procedure. Though you need to know how to solve quadratics by the methods taught in class, the program is a great way to check your work for accuracy. Otherwise, you can enter the program manually. below. Disp "AX+BX+C=0" Prompt A,B,C B-4ACD Disp (-B+(D))/(2A) Disp (-B(D))/(2A) DelVar A DelVar B DelVar C DelVar D Running the Program To run the program, press [PRGM]. Look at the list of programs and press the appropriate number; or scroll to the program and press [ENTER]. The program name will appear on your screen. Press [ENTER] to run it.

Example: you know that x5x+6 = 0 factors as (x2)(x3) = 0, and therefore the roots are 2 and 3. Run the program with A=1, B=5, C=6. (Be careful to use the change-sign key [(-)] and not the minus key [].) The answers 2 and 3 are produced, as expected. Example: 25x20x = 4. First put it in standard form, 25x20x+4 = 0. Now run the program with A=25, B=20, C=4. You see roots of .4 and .4, a double root of 2/5. This makes sense because the equation factors as (5x2) = 0.

Try additional examples using equations in your textbook. Remember that the calculator program is intended for checking your calculations; youll still be expected to solve quadratic equations manually in class and in homework. Complex Roots

If you get the message NONREAL ANS when running the program, it means your equation has no real roots but your calculator is in real-only mode. Select 1:Quit. You can set up your calculator to view non-real roots, as follows: You want to select a+bi mode. Press [MODE] [ 6 times] [] [ENTER]. Return to the home screen with [2nd MODE makes QUIT].

You can now run the program again to view the non-real roots. The calculator remembers a+bi mode, like all modes, even when turned off. See also: Complex Numbers on TI-83/84

Example: x+4x = 13. First put the equation in standard form: x+4x13 = 0. Then run the QUADRAT program with A=1, B=4, C=13 to find the roots 23i.

Entering the Program Programming the TI-83/84 isnt hard, but it does use a bunch of keys and menus you might not be familiar with. Just type everything exactly as shown, and check the didplay as you go along. Dont press the [2nd] or [ALPHA] key unless the instructions tell you to, and do be careful not to use one in place of the other. I recommend ticking off each step with a pencil as you do it, so that you dont get lost. Open the Program Editor for [PRGM] [] [ENTER] a new program. Enter a name for the new program, such as QUADRAT. Youre already in alpha mode. Use the little green letters, and press [ENTER] when finished.

optional: Any good program For Disp, press [PRGM] [] [3]. should give some idea what its doing. This one-line Press [ALPHA + makes "]. comment should be instantly recognizable to Press [ALPHA MATH makes A] [x,T,,n] anyone who has studied [x] [+]. quadratic equations. The line you are creating is Press [ALPHA APPS makes B] [x,T,,n] Disp "AX+BX+C=0" [+]. However, if you want to leave out this Press [ALPHA PRGM makes C]. documentation step the program will still run. For the = sign, press [2nd MATH makes TEST] [1], then finish the command with [0] [ALPHA + makes "] [ENTER]. Notice that the command wraps automatically to the next line. Now program the instructions to ask for the coefficients A, B, and C. For Prompt, press [PRGM] [] [2]. Press [ALPHA MATH makes A] [,] [ALPHA APPS makes B] [,] [ALPHA PRGM makes C] [ENTER].

At this point your screen should look exactly like the one above. The next step is to compute the famous quadratic formula,

Start with the discriminant B4AC, which determines whether the roots are real. To save typing later, you will compute it and store it in a new variable, D.

[ALPHA APPS makes B] [x] [] [4] [ALPHA MATH makes A] [ALPHA APPS makes C] [STO] [ALPHA x-1 makes D] [ENTER]

Now compute and display [PRGM] [] [3] [(] [(-)] [ALPHA APPS the two roots. makes B] [+] [2nd x makes ] [ALPHA xThe first root is (B+(D))/ 1 makes D] [)] [)] [] [(] [2] (2A). Be sure to use the [ALPHA MATH makes A] [)] [ENTER] change-sign key [(-)] and not the minus key []! The second root is nearly [PRGM] [] [3] [(] [(-)] [ALPHA APPS the same, (-B(D))/(2A). makes B] [] [2nd x makes ] [ALPHA xBe sure to use the change- 1 makes D] [)] [)] [] [(] [2] sign key [(-)] for the first [ALPHA MATH makes A] [)] [ENTER] - and the minus key [] for the second!

At this point, carefully check your screen against the screen shot at left. Be particularly careful about the two minus signs and the proper numbers of parentheses. If you see any differences, cursor to the mistake and correct it. Remember you can use [2nd DEL makes INS] to insert characters so that you dont have to retype a whole line. After making your corrections, move the cursor back to the empty line at the bottom. optional: Delete the created The DelVar command is on the PRGM variables. Though they menu. dont take up much space, if [PRGM] [ALPHA TAN makes G] left in memory theyll [ALPHA MATH makes A] [ENTER] surprise you on the [PRGM] [ALPHA TAN makes G] memory-management [ALPHA APPS makes B] [ENTER] screen. [PRGM] [ALPHA TAN makes G] [ALPHA PRGM makes C] [ENTER] [PRGM] [ALPHA TAN makes G] [ALPHA x-1 makes D] [ENTER] Leave the program editor by pressing [2nd MODE makes QUIT].