The TI-86 is a graphing calculator created by Texas Instruments for college-level math, engineering and science students. The screen is large and allows 8 lines of display, which can hold up to 21 characters each. In addition to the graphing functions of the TI-86, the calculator includes many calculus functions. Users have the ability to connect the calculator to other TI-86 and TI-85 calculators to share information and computers to back up their files.
Instructions
Power On, Adjust Contrast, Power Off
1. Press "On" at the bottom left corner of the keypad to turn on the calculator.
2. Push the yellow "2nd" button to control the screen's contrast adjustment.
3. Press and hold the up or down arrow button to change the contrast. The up arrow button will darken the contrast; the down arrow button will lighten the contrast. Once you let go of the up or down arrow button, the calculator will keep the contrast setting.
4. Push the "2nd" button and "On" to turn off the calculator.
Entering Numbers
5. Press the number on the keypad to enter the number.
6. Push the "-" button to make a number negative.
7. Use the "(" and ")" buttons to place an expression in parentheses. The calculator will first compute any part of the expression that is in parentheses.
Entering 2nd Key Characters
8. Look at the keypad. The yellow characters and symbols that appear over the buttons can be entered into an expression. Those characters and symbols are controlled by the "2nd" button.
9. Press the "2nd" button.
10. Push the button that has the yellow character over it to enter the character in the expression.
Adding ALPHA Characters
11. Look at the keypad. The TI-86 allows you to enter uppercase and lowercase letters into an expression. The letters are in blue above the buttons and controlled by the "Alpha" button.
12. Press the "Alpha" button. If you want to enter several letters, press the "Alpha" button twice to set "Alpha-lock."
13. Push the button of the letter you want in the expression. The letter will appear capitalized on the screen. Push the "2nd" button and then the "Alpha" button if you want to create lowercase letters.
