Graphing Calculator Question

[us3rnotfound]

In Pre Calc, we're doing Trig, and I wanted to know, how do I know whether to have my calculator set in degree or radian mode?

 

[Heisenberg]

Check what mode it's in?

 

[us3rnotfound]

which mode does it need to be in?

 

[ProviaFan]

What calculator?

 

[us3rnotfound]

ti 83+

 

[dighn]

that depends on what the class uses

 

[ProviaFan]

What mode you use depends on whether the problem you're doing uses degrees or radians. In my math book, they would use both, so I had to switch the calculator from one mode to the other several times per lesson. Unfortunately, I have a TI-89, so I'm not sure how you'd set the setting on yours... your teacher might know, or someone else here who has one could help you. On mine, there is a mode button that brings up a menu with the options - YMMV.

 

[hollowman]

Hit "mode" button

3rd line has "Radian" "Degree" Change to watever mode you need to be in. (I assume radian since you are doing trig.)

Gluck.

 

[jagec]

Almost always radians, for trig.

 

[us3rnotfound]

Alright, I get it now, thanks

 

[OverVolt]

You are hopelessly screwed if you don't know how to change modes on a TI83, have fun doing polar graphs on the TI-83.

 

[duragezic]

Well you need to look at the problem. If it says evaluate cos(42pi) then you might wanna have it in Radian. OTOH, if it was cos (42°), the degrees symbol should clue you in.

It seemed in my math classes that we most often used radians, but I was usually in degrees in physics classes, so remember to change it before a test.