!88: Calculator Tips: Improve Graphs with the TI-83/TI-84 Formatting Screen

!±8± Calculator Tips: Improve Graphs with the TI-83/TI-84 Formatting Screen

There are many options to control the display of graphs in a TI-83 / TI-84 series calculator. To format a graph in a TI-83 / TI-84 calculator, you must use the format menu.

Access the Format Menu

1. Press the 2ND key then the ZOOM key.

2. You should now be in the "Format Menu Screen".

The default setup of the Format Menu Screen looks like this:

RectGC PolarGC

CoordOn CoordOff

GridOff GridOn

AxesOff AxesOn

LabelOff LabelOn

ExprOn ExprOff

Change Formatting Options

To change formatting options, you use the cursor keys to move the cursor on the screen and select a new option. The cursor keys are in the upper right hand corner of the calculator, to the right of the [DEL] key, and above the [VARS] and [CLEAR] keys.

1. Use the cursor keys to move around on the screen.

2. When you have selected the formatting option you want, push the ENTER key.

For example, if you select GridOn and push ENTER, this is what the screen will look like.

RectGC PolarGC

CoordOn CoordOff

GridOff GridOn

AxesOff AxesOn

LabelOff LabelOn

ExprOn ExprOff

Formatting Options

Polar Versus Rectangular Coordinates

If you select RectCG the coordinates of the graph cursor will be displayed in X,Y (rectangular) coordinates. If you select PolarCG, the coordinates of the graph cursor will be displayed in r,θ (polar) coordinates.

CoordOn Versus CoordOff

If you select CoordOn the coordinates of the cursor location cursor will be displayed at the bottom of the graph, as you move the cursor around. If you select CoordOff, the coordinates will not be displayed.

GridOn Versus GridOff

If you select GridOn the graph will be covered with grid points the same distance apart as the tick marks that appear on the X and Y coordinate lines. If you select GridOff, no grid points will be displayed. Try it!

AxesOn Versus AxesOff

If you select AxesOn the X and Y axes will be displayed. If you select AxesOff, no axes will be displayed.

LabelOn Versus LabelOff

If you select LabelOn X and Y axis labels will be displayed. If you select LabelOff, no labels will be displayed.

ExprOn Versus ExprOff

This only applies when you are in the Trace screen. If you select ExprOn the expression you are tracing will appear in the upper left corner of the screen,. If you select ExprOff, no expression will be displayed.