Thread: ti 89 problems

Hello everyone,
I am a college chemistry studen and I would like to get some help with my TI 89 calculator. I am having some major problems with it and I cannot seem to find anyone who knows how to use this thing.
I have several questions and if anyone could please help me I would appreciate it.
first I am having problems doing temp conversions with this calculator. I followed the book exactly, but I never get the correct answer. I use the catalogue button, get the temp conversion then select what I am looking for. for example I chose temp conversion 98.6 degrees F _ C. I know the answer is 37, but it gives me some off the wall answer.
another problem I am having is simple division. I wanted to divide 125/100 and all it does is reduce the fraction. I can do the problem, but I just don't understand why it does this.
I also have problems with the scientific notation. if I ask the calculator to give me a decimal in scientific notation it won't. another example is if I type .00067 into the calculator, go to mode, select scientific notation, and hit enter it just gives me the same decimal back.
under the unit conversions when I ask something such as convert meters to inches it gives me the answer in m squared or whatever.
I am very confused and what it boils down to is I DO NOT trust this calculator to do what it's supposed to do. if anyone could PLEASE help me I'd appreciate it. PLEASE e-mail me or post something to help me. I am having an exam this week and I feel so far behind b/c I've been trying to figure this calculator out, with basically no results.
thank you all

Hello,

I'll see later for the conversions...

Originally Posted by hockeyplayer

another problem I am having is simple division. I wanted to divide 125/100 and all it does is reduce the fraction. I can do the problem, but I just don't understand why it does this.

Just write :

Code:

125/100.

Or

Code:

125./100

Or when typing 125/100, push the green diamond button (under 2nd), and then enter

I also have problems with the scientific notation. if I ask the calculator to give me a decimal in scientific notation it won't. another example is if I type .00067 into the calculator, go to mode, select scientific notation, and hit enter it just gives me the same decimal back.

You can't just select it for one calculation..
Go into MODE, select scientific.
Also chose the FLOAT 12 ("Display digits"), in the MODE too. It's always useful.
Then, enter your number.

It works for me

-----------------------

For conversions, I've found this : units, I think it can help ya

I have a Voyage 200 and an old 92, but they work virtually the same.

Do you want to turn .0067 into scientific?. When I change 'exponential format' to scientific and enter .0067 I get 6.7E-3. Which is what we want.

To turn a fraction in pretty print to a decimal hit the green diamond button and then ENTER. That is for approximation.

To turn .0067 into a fraction, you can use exact(.0067).

Make sure your 'display digits' is set on something appropriate. I keep my set on FLOAT

Set your Exact/Approx setting to AUTO, EXACT, or APPROXIMATE. Whichever you prefer.

As for the temp conversion, I don't know what that could be. You may have something stored in a variable or some setting is off.

What is the 'off the wall' answer it gives?.

A good idea is to delete all stored variables which may cause problems.

Go to F6, then a screen will appear that says Clear a-z. Hit ENTER.

For temperature conversion. I forgot. Been awhile since I used it.

It works a little different for some reason.

Use tmpcnv()

Here is a screen capture.

Originally Posted by galactus

For temperature conversion. I forgot. Been awhile since I used it.

Use tmpcnv()

Here is a screen capture.

How can you make screen captures of your calculator ?

If you want to convert meters to inches:

Example:

Originally Posted by Moo

How can you make screen captures of your calculator ?

Using the GraphLink. I have TIConnect on my desktop. I click on that and then on Screen Capture. Save it and then post it. Easy. The GraphLink should have came with your calculator.

I want to thank you all for the awesome help. I appreciate it more than you can know.
I will sit down with the calculator and actually try this stuff. I'm pretty sure I can get it to work, but it's nice to know that I can get some help if I need it.
does anyone have any other suggestions that I should set my calculator too? I don't think I'll be doing any calc or trig if that helps any.
also, does anyone know any good sites that I can learn some basic programming? actually what I'm looking for is a way to program some chem formulas into the calculator and hit the buttons so it will do the work for me if that's possible. something like figuring out density d=m/v and similar things.
I did store some of the basic formulas in the notepad so I don't have to memorize them or possibly screw them up.
also, if anyone has any good programs available or can steer me in the right direction I'd appreciate it. I found a few on ticalc, but that's about it. I don't even know how to access any programs let alone use them.
the book is pretty complicated and the print is kinda small.
thanks again to everyone. any help or advice is much appreciated.

Originally Posted by hockeyplayer

I want to thank you all for the awesome help. I appreciate it more than you can know.
I will sit down with the calculator and actually try this stuff. I'm pretty sure I can get it to work, but it's nice to know that I can get some help if I need it.
does anyone have any other suggestions that I should set my calculator too? I don't think I'll be doing any calc or trig if that helps any.
also, does anyone know any good sites that I can learn some basic programming? actually what I'm looking for is a way to program some chem formulas into the calculator and hit the buttons so it will do the work for me if that's possible. something like figuring out density d=m/v and similar things.
I did store some of the basic formulas in the notepad so I don't have to memorize them or possibly screw them up.
also, if anyone has any good programs available or can steer me in the right direction I'd appreciate it. I found a few on ticalc, but that's about it. I don't even know how to access any programs let alone use them.
the book is pretty complicated and the print is kinda small.
thanks again to everyone. any help or advice is much appreciated.

Go to custom look for it its a blue back button

once you have selected the custom key format go to

F2

once there the bottom will have

f(x) define =

Or something

for multivariable functions do this

say I had a four variable function for the variables x,y,z,t

then I would just go

Originally Posted by hockeyplayer

Hello everyone,
I am a college chemistry studen and I would like to get some help with my TI 89 calculator. I am having some major problems with it and I cannot seem to find anyone who knows how to use this thing.
I have several questions and if anyone could please help me I would appreciate it.
first I am having problems doing temp conversions with this calculator. I followed the book exactly, but I never get the correct answer. I use the catalogue button, get the temp conversion then select what I am looking for. for example I chose temp conversion 98.6 degrees F _ C. I know the answer is 37, but it gives me some off the wall answer.
another problem I am having is simple division. I wanted to divide 125/100 and all it does is reduce the fraction. I can do the problem, but I just don't understand why it does this.
I also have problems with the scientific notation. if I ask the calculator to give me a decimal in scientific notation it won't. another example is if I type .00067 into the calculator, go to mode, select scientific notation, and hit enter it just gives me the same decimal back.
under the unit conversions when I ask something such as convert meters to inches it gives me the answer in m squared or whatever.
I am very confused and what it boils down to is I DO NOT trust this calculator to do what it's supposed to do. if anyone could PLEASE help me I'd appreciate it. PLEASE e-mail me or post something to help me. I am having an exam this week and I feel so far behind b/c I've been trying to figure this calculator out, with basically no results.
thank you all

You're a chemistry student? I have something special for you: Periodic89 - A Periodic Table for the 89. It gives orbital info, and other neat stuff: Here are some screen shots (note that I've also included the program itself downloaded from here: