HELPFUL TIPS FOR

USING THE TI-84 ON

THE ACT
ACT Prep
2-19-20
 Pay Attention in Your Math Classes!!!!
 Take difficult courses offered by your high school
 Study and do well in them
 Do everything to be an expert in your current class.

 Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can about the stuff above at this point…
 This presentation is going to try to give you tips to
 Steal time
 Get some quick answers
 Eliminate wrong choices

THE BEST WAY TO DO WELL ON THE

ACT…
 Math is the only subject whose score reflects a student’s ability to graduate
college in 4 years or less.
 In other words, the higher your math ACT score, the more likely you are to
graduate college.
 This is NOT true for any other tested subject.
 Top Predictors of College Success (success being defined as the ability the
graduate in 4 years with a respectable degree)
 High School GPA
 ACT Score
 # of high school math classes taken
 % of HW assignments completed

CORRELATION BETWEEN MATH &

COLLEGE GRADUATION
 Questions 1-20 (Easy)
 While you can use a calculator on the ACT, using it on the first 20
questions may limit your time.
 Do these problems quickly and in your head when possible
 Questions 21-40 (Moderate)
 We may need to use a calculator for these questions
 Questions 41-60 (Difficult)
 We can make some of these difficult questions into Moderate or Easy
questions with the use of a calculator.

IT’S ALL ABOUT PACING!

 You ARE allowed to use a calculator on the ACT, and I would highly recommend it!
 Permitted Calculators:
 TI-83, TI-84, TI-85, TI-86, TI-nSpire
 Illegal Calculators:
 TI-89, TI-92, TI-nSpire (CAS)
 Anything with an algebraic solver (CAS)
 Anything with a keypad (QWERTY)
 Here is what ILLEGAL calculators look like
 It is your responsibility to make sure your calculator is in working order.
 The test center will not provide a back-up, batteries, explain how to use functions, etc.
 Use whatever calculator you typically use in your daily math class.
 Do no try something new on test day.

ACT CALCULATOR POLICY

 TheACT does have permission to reset the memory on your
calculator.
 RAM Cleared
 Sometimes,
you will write programs in your math class that you
may not want deleted.
 You will need to ARCHIVE these programs for use at a later
date.
 Let’s see how this is done.

ARCHIVE STUFF YOU WANT TO KEEP!

 The ACT does NOT provide any formulas for the math test.
 Some formulas that commonly appear:
−𝒃± 𝒃𝟐 −𝟒𝒂𝒄
 Quadratic Formula 𝒙 =
𝟐𝒂

 Common Areas & Volumes

 Some Calculators already have these programmed in them.
𝒂 𝒃 𝒄
 Law of Sines: = =
𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝑨) 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝑩) 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝑪)

 Law of Cosines: 𝒂𝟐 = 𝒃𝟐 + 𝒄𝟐 − 𝟐𝒃𝒄 ∙ 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝑨)

𝟏
 Hero(n)’s Formula: Area of a Triangle (SSS)  𝑨 = 𝒔(𝒔 − 𝒂)(𝒔 − 𝒃)(𝒔 − 𝒄), 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒔 = (𝒂 + 𝒃 +
𝟐
𝒄)

SOME FORMULAS YOU SHOULD

KNOW
  Area/Volume of Basic Polygons
 Slope
 Perimeter of Basic Polygons
 Slope-Intercept Form of a Line  Pythagorean Theorem
 Midpoint Formula  Properties of Special Triangles
 Distance Formula  30/60/90
 Properties of Logarithms  45/45/90
 Mean/Median/Mode  Pythagorean Triples
 Basic Probability  Arc Length
 Combinations/Permutations  Sin/Cos/Tan

FORMULAS THAT ARE COMMONLY

NEEDED
 Arithmetic Sequences/Series
 Matrix Operations
 𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝟏 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)(𝒅)
 Geometric Sequences/Series  Standard Form of a Circle
 𝒈𝒏 = 𝒈𝟏 (𝒓)𝒏−𝟏  Standard Form of a Line
 Slant Asymptotes  Point-Slope Form of a Line
 Horizontal Asymptotes
 Area of a Triangle given SAS
 Vertical Asymptotes
 Triangle Congruency
 Synthetic Division

SOME LESS COMMON FORMULAS

YOU MAY NEED
Question is long and wordy
Questionseems purposefully confusing and
doesn’t make sense even after reading it
twice
Question has large or complicated numbers
Question involves lengthy calculations
WHEN TO SKIP A QUESTION
 Mode
 Normal
 Trig Problems
 Radians vs. Degrees
 If answers don’t seem normal, you’re in the wrong mode.
The temperature in San Diego
 Imaginary Mode
 a+bi
 Window Setting/Re-Setting
 ZoomStandard  Zoom:6
 Plots On/Off
 Keep them OFF unless absolutely necessary

CALCULATOR SETTINGS
 Things you can find by graphing:
 Solutions (zeros, roots)
 Maximums, Minimums, Critical Points
 Points of intersection (possible solutions)
 Use the TABLE
 Zeros
 Domain
 Range
 Points of Intersection

 The number one piece of advice I can give you today is to solve problems graphically whenever
you are unsure of what to do.

LYNCH’S LAW: WHEN IN DOUBT,

GRAPH IT OUT!
 If
the angles of a triangle are 3x, x+10, and 2x-40, what is the measure of the
smallest angle?
 We should know that the sum of the interior angles of a triangle equals 180,
so 3x+x+10+2x-40=180.
 6x-30=180

 6x=210

 x=35

 Now, let’s look at this problem graphically or with a TABLE.

 Show on the calculator
GRAPHING EXAMPLE #1
 Which of the following could NOT be a solution to 4-3x< -3?
 A. 4
 B. 3.5
 C. 3
 D. 2.5
 E. 2

 Let’s look at this using the graphing calculator.

GRAPHING EXAMPLE
OUR CORRECT ANSWER IS (E)!
 How many times does the equation 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟒 − 𝒙𝟓 cross the x-axis?
 A. 1
 B. 2
 C. 3
 D. 4
 E. 5

 Let’s look at this graphically.

ANOTHER GRAPHING EXAMPLE
OUR CORRECT ANSWER IS (B)!
 Ifa line passes through the points (6,4) and (-2,-4), what is its y-
intercept?
 A. 1
 B. 0
 C. -1
 D. -2
 E. -3
 Again, we will examine this graphically.

ONE MORE GRAPHING EXAMPLE

OUR CORRECT ANSWER IS (D)!
 The greatest advantage that we, as students, have on the ACT
is the fact that it is a multiple choice test.
 We need to use this to our advantage.
 EX: Expand (x+3)(2x+4)=?
 In a traditional sense, we could do this problem using FOIL
𝒙 𝟐𝒙 + 𝒙 𝟒 + 𝟑 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑 𝟒 = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟔𝒙 + 𝟏𝟐 = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 +
𝟏𝟎𝒙 + 𝟏𝟐
 Let’s
see how we can solve this problem using Guess &
Check
THE TEST FEATURE
 A. 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟎𝒙 + 𝟏𝟐
 B. 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟔
 C. 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟔𝒙 + 𝟏𝟐
 D. 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟔
 E. 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏𝟐
 Let’s
use the TEST feature on our calculator to find the correct
answer.

(X+3)(2X+4)
Correct Answers Will Show 1
Wrong Answers Will Show 0

TEST FEATURE (=)

 Basedon the knowledge we just gained about the TEST feature, we could
check any possible answer on the ACT to ensure accuracy.
 Downfalls:

 Takes too long

 We still need to be able to set-up the problem correctly.
 My recommendation:
 Solve
as many problems as you can as fast and as you accurately
can…
Then go back and use the Guess and Check Strategy with the
TEST feature on the problems that are confusing.
GUESS AND CHECK
 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟔 𝒚𝟒 𝒛𝟐
 Simplify
𝟔𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟒 𝒛𝟖
𝟐𝒙𝟒
 A.
𝒛𝟔
𝟐𝒙𝟖 𝒚𝟖 𝒛𝟏𝟎
 B.
𝟏
 C. 𝟔𝒙𝟒 𝒛−𝟔
𝟐𝒙𝟑
 D.
𝒛𝟒
𝟐𝒙𝟔
 E.
𝒛𝟒

TRY THE FOLLOWING ONE ON YOUR

OWN:
OUR CORRECT ANSWER IS (A)!
Another fantastic tool on the calculator is called the
SOLVER.
It is located at the bottom of the MATH menu.
Some of your calculators will call it the Numeric Solver.
This solves any equation for you!

SOLVER
Anytime we use a feature on the
calculator we need the variable to be x.

LET’S USE THE NUMERIC SOLVER ON

THIS PROBLEM.
SOLVER
 The SOLVER can be a very valuable tool when used appropriately.
A few things to remember:
 Press your up arrow to enter the equation
 Remember to use SOLVE
 Do not use ENTER
 Convert your answer to a fraction from the home screen if necessary.
 While the SOLVER is very beneficial, it is a time-consuming operation.
 Use it sparingly, or only as absolutely needed

SOLVER
Solve 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟒 = 𝟎.
Let’s examine this one together as a class.
Notice how there are two possible answers.
When using the SOLVER, be sure to account for
all possible solutions.
This is especially true with quadratic equations.
TRY THE FOLLOWING ON YOUR OWN
USING THE SOLVER
BE SURE TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL
POSSIBILITIES WHEN USING THE SOLVER
LET’S EXAMINE THIS SAME PROBLEM
GRAPHICALLY
 Another useful feature of the graphing calculator is the Polynomial Simulator.
 It will do the following:
 Find roots to a polynomial (zeros, solutions, etc.)
 We can use this instead of graphing or using the SOLVER.
Thenice thing about the Polynomial Simulator is that it will also solve for
Imaginary Solutions.
 Note: Graphs and the SOLVER will NOT find imaginary solutions.
Thisis actually the APP that I would use most often on the ACT, or in any math
class.
 Solve simultaneous equations
 2 equations in 2 variables; 3 equations in 3 variables; etc.

POLYNOMIAL SIMULATOR
LET’S DO THE SAME PROBLEM USING
THE POLYNOMIAL SIMULATOR
 Use the Polynomial Simulator to solve
 𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔𝒙 + 𝟖 = 𝟎.
 Note: this problem will have imaginary
solutions.
 Your GRAPH and TABLE will only give you
REAL solutions.
 This
is why I prefer the Polynomial
Simulator.

TRY THE FOLLOWING ON YOUR OWN:

SOLUTION
 The other useful tool on the Polynomial Simulator is the Simultaneous Equation Solver.
 This allows us to solve systems.
 EX: Solve

 Doing this problem by hand would require some lengthy arithmetic; let’s use
our APP.

SIMULTANEOUS EQUATION SOLVER

SIMULTANEOUS EQUATION SOLVER
 We can save a lot of time doing statistics problems by using one button.
 1-Var Stats
 This will find for us.
Mean

Median

Mode

Standard Deviation
Variance

Quartiles

Box and Whisker Plots

 Let’s do a quick example on the board
STATISTICS
 Which of the following data sets has the greatest standard
deviation?
 F. 1,1,1,10,10,10
 G. 1,2,3,4,5,6
 H. 2,6,6,10,10,12
 J. 5,5,5,5,5,5
 K. 5,6,7,8,9,10
 We can always use CATALOG to try to find something that may
help.
I’VE NEVER SEEN THAT WORD BEFORE
STUDY CARD APP
 Whatis the least common denominator of the fractions 4/15, 1/6,
and 3/4 ?
 F. 20
 G. 60
 H. 90
 J. 120
 K. 360
 Let’s use the lcm() button on the calculator.
COMMON DENOMINATOR = LEAST
COMMON MULTIPLE
If a=3, b= -5, and c=4, then 𝟐𝒂𝟐 𝒃 − 𝟓𝒂𝒄𝟐 =?
A. -330
B. -180
C. -150
D. 60
E. 330
Let’s learn how to store variables on the calculator.
STORING VARIABLES
 Thepoints S(4,10) and T(6,-2) lie in the standard (x,y) coordinate
plane. What is the midpoint of line segment ST?
 A. (1,-6)
 B.(2,5)

 C.(3,-1)

 D. (5,4)
 E. (9,8)
 Let’s examine some geometry
USING GEOMETRIC FEATURES ON THE
CALCULATOR
 Which of the following is a simplified form of 𝟐𝟎 − 𝟒𝟓?
 A. − 𝟓
 B. -5
 C. 5
 D. 𝟓 𝟓
 E. 𝟔𝟓
 Let’s examine this by comparing decimals.
Then let’s discuss ZOOMMATH500
 Which is NOT allowed on the ACT
SIMPLIFYING RADICALS
 Let
0<a<b<c<d be true for integers a,b,c, and d. Which of the following
expressions has the greatest value?
 F. d/a
 G. c/b
 H. a/b
 J. d/c
 K. a/d
 Let’s assume some values for a, b, c, and d. a=1, b=2, c=3, d=4
Now just check each possibility
REPLACING LETTERS WITH NUMBERS
 𝟒𝒙
 Supposethat x is a positive real number and is a rational
𝟔𝒙𝟐
number. Which of the following statements about x must be true?
 F. x is rational
 G. x is irrational
 H. x=1
 J. x= 2/3
 K. x= 3/2
REPLACING LETTERS WITH NUMBERS
(CONTINUED)
Which of the following inequalities orders
𝟓 𝟓
the 4 numbers 𝟑, 𝟏 , 𝟏. 𝟔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 from
𝟔 𝟑
largest to smallest?
Simplyfind the corresponding
decimals are arrange accordingly.
USING THE DECIMAL EQUIVALENT
http://socs.nemo.k12.ar.us/vimages/shared/vne
ws/stories/55d4dfc51f79a/ACT%20Math%20Stude
nt.pdf
Has sample problems with answers
Has common formulas
Glossary of terms

PRACTICE TEST
 ACT Calculator Strategies
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJpcWBtsU1Y&t=25s

 When Do I Use My Calculator Part 1

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wloPpnlSjo&t=9s

 When Do I Use My Calculator Part 2

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuqZq_Q2D5o

 When Do I Use My Calculator Part 3

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijdon6sL1LY&t=6s

HELPFUL YOUTUBE VIDEOS

 How to Use the Algebraic SOLVER
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZnbiLoQiBQ&t=7s

 SAT Calculator Hacks

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxNuBiCeSGk&t=179s

 Quick Tips for Learning to Use Your Calculator

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0IWNyL6UyI&t=10s

 How to Use the TI-84 Overview

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDLB_9VSo7Q

HELPFUL YOUTUBE VIDEOS (CONT.)

 Doing Statistics on the TI-84
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShwFWQ0ikZw

 Quadratic Formulas on the TI-84

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnJLKU-WjJI

 The Ultimate List of TI-84 SAT Programs

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8_g9fUGwug&t=56s

 Programming with the TI-84

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs-B3iXDHgk

HELPFUL YOUTUBE VIDEOS (CONT.)

 Don’t spend too much time using the calculator.
 If you don’t immediately recognize a short cut on the calculator, begin doing the problem by hand.
 Make sure you only access allowed items.
 Don’t use ZOOMMATH500
 WHEN IN DOUBT, GRAPH IT OUT!!!
 This is your best strategy.
 Use the calculator for statistics questions.
 Use the TEST feature when time permits.
 Substitute numbers for letters
 The Calculator is a teaching tool. Use it to PREPARE for the ACT as opposed to thinking of it as a way to get
free answers.
 STUDY CARDS
 Numerous other APPS
FINAL THOUGHTS…
 All of the information from both ACT Prep Sessions will be posted to your Schoology
Account.
 Be sure you signed-in, so I can email you the appropriate documents.
 Also, some of your teachers are offering extra credit for attending. Make sure
your name is written clearly, so I can let them know you where here.
 If there is anything else you need for the ACT, let me know.
 Your Packet Includes:
This PPT
Helpful Tips for Using the Calculator on the ACT
Common Errors on the Graphing Calculator

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!