The MODE window for the TI-92 calculator allows easy access for mode changes. Pressing the MODE button opens Page 1. To get to page 2, you can either press the F2 button or use the cursor pad to scroll down. After a mode has been changed, you must press ENTER to save the change and exit the mode window.

Some of the current calculator mode settings are show in the status bar.

Graph

To view the graph mode options, place the cursor over FUNCTION and press the right arrow on the cursor pad. To change a mode, either press the corresponding number or use the cursor to scroll down to the option and press ENTER.

The Graph option gives you the choice of 5 graphing modes. These modes take effect when you switch to the graphing screens. The function mode is of the form y as a function of x or y(x). The parametric mode allows you to define the parametric equations a(t) and y(t). The polar mode defines r as a function of angle or r(q). The sequence mode defines a recursive or nonrecursive sequence u(n) and the 3D mode allows three dimensional functions z(x,y) to be graphed.

Current Folder

The current folder option is used to change the location of the home screen. A current folder may look like the diagram below. Note the 4 different folders.

I can change folders by scrolling down to 3: physics and pressing ENTER Pressing ENTER again will save changes. The current home screen folder is identified in the lower left corner of the screen.

Some programs will not run if the home screen folder is not the same as the location of the program.

New Folder

To create a press the diamond key then - for VAR-LINK.

The VAR-LINK window in the [All] mode shows the folders and variables that are stored in memory. To create a new folder, press F1 Manage then select 5: Create Folder then ENTER.

Name the new folder and press ENTER twice.

The new folder will now be listed under the MAIN folder.

You can access defined variables (such as programs) and functions from other folders. This is done by typing the folder name\variable (like the diagram below) or highlighting the variable from the VAR-LINK window and pressing ENTER.

The next option for the MODE window is Display Digits. You can get back to the mode window by pressing the MODE key.

Display Digits

The display digits mode option allows you the ability to format or fix the number of digits to the screen.

The FIX option will always display a result with the defined fixed number of decimals. The following output is displayed as FIX 0, FIX 4 and FIX 8 respectively. If the number has more decimals than the fixed number, the result will be in scientific notation.

The FLOAT option will set the number of decimal places depending on the result. The FLOAT option with a number, (i.e., Float 2) will round the display to scientific notation if the integer part has more than the selected number of digits. The following output is displayed as FLOAT, FLOAT 3, FLOAT 6, and FLOAT 9 respectively.

Angle

The angle mode option allows you to define an angle in degrees or radians.

Exponential Format

The exponential format mode option allows you to set the exponential format.

The normal, scientific and engineering modes are shown in order below.

Complex Format

The complex format mode gives you the option to format complex results.

Pretty Print

One of the features that makes the TI-92 calculator unique is its ability to show results in a traditional symbolic format.

The top three results on the screen below are in pretty print mode and the last two are in standard mode.

Split Screen

The TI-92 allows you to view two applications at the same time. This feature is useful when the two applications are related.

The LEFT-RIGHT split screen is shown below.

The toolbar will change depending on the highlighted window. To move from one window to the other, use the APPS key, shortcuts or press the 2nd key then APPS.

Note that when the split screen mode is activated, the mode screen allows you access more options.

Exact/Approx

The exact/approximate mode option is useful to change depending on whether you are using the calculator for pure mathematical or pure science calculations.

When the calculator is in an exact mode, an answer will not be simplified to a decimal result. The approximate mode will always give the result rounded to the display digit format and the auto mode will use the exact setting most of the time and use the approximate mode for entries containing a decimal.

If your mode is set to exact or auto, and you would like to view the result as a floating point solution, press the green diamond key then the ENTER button for the » option.

One important thing to remember about MODE setting with the TI-92 is that some programs will change the mode settings. It is a good idea to check the mode setting often.