How to use the calculator

Use the keypad to practice calculations, graphing, tables, and statistics. The examples guide you through the same keys used by the simulator.

Keys and keyboard input

Click or tap a calculator key. You can type numbers, +, -, *, /, ^, parentheses, and decimals on your keyboard. Enter evaluates an expression. Escape clears the current entry. Delete and Backspace edit it. The arrow keys move the cursor. Press x for X,T,θ,n, which enters the independent variable for the current graphing mode.

The yellow labels are second functions. Press 2nd first to use one. Press ALPHA for a green letter label. Press 2nd, then ALPHA to lock letters on, and ALPHA again to unlock them. Use MODE to change radians to degrees or choose function, parametric, polar, or sequence graphing.

Open menus with MATH, STAT, VARS, or ZOOM. Use the arrow keys and ENTER to choose an item, or press the number beside it. Reset calculator clears your calculations, graph definitions, and color choices.

Graphing in color

Press Y= and enter an expression such as X² in Y1. Use the down arrow to enter another function in Y2, then press GRAPH. Each equation has a different default color. Open Graph colors below the screen to change an equation or statistics plot color. The controls keep their choices when you switch screens, and Copy link includes those choices.

Press WINDOW to set the visible ranges, or ZOOM and 6 for the standard window. TRACE follows a curve. Use the left and right arrows to move along it and the up and down arrows to switch curves. Press 2nd, then TRACE for the CALC menu, which finds values, zeros, minimums, maximums, intersections, slopes, and integrals in function mode.

Press 2nd, then GRAPH for the table. Press 2nd, then WINDOW to set the table start and increment. The other graphing modes have their own equation editors, window settings, trace readouts, and tables.

Worked examples

Pick an example to see its steps. Follow mode highlights the next key and waits for you to press it. Press Play step in either mode to watch the remaining keys of the current step. Playback pauses at the result. Pause stops it early, and Play step resumes. You can move back, restart, or use Show me to complete a step immediately.

The examples cover arithmetic, scientific functions, graphing, tables, drawing, lists, one and two variable statistics, regression, statistics plots, matrices, probability, distributions, tests, and confidence intervals. They also cover parametric and polar curves, sequences, split screens, pictures, and graph databases.

These lessons use the calculator engine shared with our TI-83 Plus simulator. Shared keys and calculations work here, but the lessons do not teach CE-only shortcut menus or MathPrint templates. Each example and step has a shareable link.

Supported features and limits

This calculator is written from scratch. It uses the tested calculation engine of the LivePhysics TI-83 Plus simulator with a CE-style case, white screen, status strip, and selectable equation and statistics plot colors. It is a learning aid, not an emulator of the CE operating system.

The display uses a 320 by 240 canvas, but the graph computation uses the shared engine's lower resolution grid and sixteen by eight text layout. Trace steps, numerical results, menus, list editors, and split screens can therefore differ from the CE handheld. MathPrint fractions and textbook input templates, CE shortcut menus, background images, and colors for DRAW commands are not included. Use the Graph colors controls on this page to set curve colors.

Complex numbers, strings, programs, finance, and installed calculator apps are not supported. The complex MODE choices are disabled. Archive, Unarchive, and Group are not included. Random numbers use the simulator's own generator. Numerical searches, regressions, distributions, and inference can differ from the handheld in their last digits.

Path and Animate show a finished curve with a ball at its endpoint. The cursor does not blink. Large parametric and polar windows are limited to 2000 steps, and sequences to 10000 terms. These limits keep the calculator responsive.

For the handheld's screen layouts and complete feature set, see the Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE guidebook. Its color guide explains the CE's equation, statistics plot, drawing, and graph format color controls.

Explore solvers, calculus, complex numbers, matrices and vectors with the TI-36X Pro calculator. Practice fractions and scientific functions with the TI-30XIIS calculator. Try the TI-83 Plus simulator for its original monochrome interface, the Function Graph Explorer for interactive function comparisons, or the Matrix Calculator for matrix operations.

Use this simulator for practice and homework. Follow your teacher's or exam provider's rules about which calculators you may use during a test.

TI-84 Plus CE and TI-83 Plus are trademarks of Texas Instruments. LivePhysics is not affiliated with or endorsed by Texas Instruments.