Calculator requirements at the different levels

Middle School: Basic scientific calculator required (e.g. Casio FX83GT)

Upper School: Above sufficient but recommendation of Casio FX-991ES or Casio FX-991EX

Sixth Form: TI-Nspire CX graphical display calculator (GDC) is required in all cases.
​
For single mathematicians, the Casio FX-991EX and TI-30X Pro provide the minimum required functionality for A-level Maths but use of these calculators will not be supported in lessons, and will not offer the opportunities to check work in exams by sketching graphs, etc. We therefore ask that you purchase the TI-Nspire CX (see student recommendation to the right). 
​The GDC is probably one of the most worthwhile investments you could make going into the Sixth Form. Although, it seems very complex to use and some of you may think you will never get used to it, with frequent use in every Mathematics lesson by the time it comes to the examination period you will be well-versed to use the graphical calculator. Having just recently completed my A-Level Mathematics exams, it was very useful whilst completing papers as it enables you to check your answers efficiently and ensure that you are on the right track! One of the most reassuring things in an exam is to be able to check your answers resourcefully on the GDC, thus I highly recommend that you invest into a GDC as throughout your time in the Sixth Form it will be very useful in lessons as well as throughout the examination period. ​
-J Patel, Single Mathematician, Year 13 2017-2018

Checking questions on the GDC

C3 and C4. Who is right? Who is wrong? Play the game using the document here. 
S2. Questions you can practice getting answers to on the GDC are here, with thanks to Mrs Shaw. 
FP3. Questions you can practice getting answers to on the GDC are here, with thanks to Mr Taylor-West. 

Press to Test Mode

‘Press to Test’ mode temporarily disables all current documents and denies access to programming libraries.

Method
Switch the TI-Nspire handheld off.
Whilst holding down the esc key, press on.

International Baccalaureate

A Level
You will deselect these four options, which are allowed by the IB and therefore should not be disabled. 
  • Disable inequality graphing
  • Limit trigonometric functions
  • Disable logbx template and summation functions
  • Disable Polynomial Root Finder and Simultaneous Equation Solver
Leave the remaining seven items selected.
Deselect all of the options as nothing should be disabled - it's all allowed!!!

Ctrl+A allows you to select and deselect things. 

UPDATE YOUR GDC
If you do not have Version 4.5 then you're missing out...

To check the version of your GDC, on the homepage go to ‘Settings’ > ’Status’.

The latest version is 4.5.1. 
For the IB exams it is a requirement that your calculator has the latest operating system and if your version is earlier than 4.4 you might be missing important functions!

To update your TI-NSpire, first download the operating system here and save it somewhere that you can find easily.
 
1. Download the free ‘Computer Link Software’ from here.
2. Connect your handheld to your computer using one of the long USB cables included in the GDC box when you were given the calculator.
3. When the handheld is connected you can drag the OS file onto the handheld in the Computer Link Software.
4. Enjoy your rejuvenated, state of the art GDC!

Skills worksheets for the GDC in A-level and IB

Worksheets are given below to help you get to grips with using your GDC. These topics should be relevant for A-level and IB (with any course specific sheets listed below), but note the order your teacher follows may be different from below and you may not be given every sheet in class.

Additional GDC resources

For the TI (IB and A-Level students)
A guide to starting out with the TI can be found here.
Useful exercises to get the best out of the TI can be found here and here.
You can watch some great tutorials on the TI here.
Another good guide to the TI can be found here. It includes an introduction to programming on the TI.
The key functions you need to know are in the table below, and you can test yourself on them on quizlet here. Try the space race!
Press to test mode: Your calculator must be put in press to test mode just before your exam. Find out how here.

GDC basics session with Ms Copin

You may wish to print out the slides from the powerpoint below to work through this. Apologies for the terrible quality of the video!!!
Example of what I want
In calculator page
Roots of polynomial
Define f(x) as 2x
define a vector
delete variable/function/list x
define a list
delete a page
solve an equation
solve an equation around a point
solve an equation in a domain
minimum of a function
maximum of a function
find factors of a number
probability of certain range in a binomial distribution

geometric distribution probability
poisson probability cdf
probability of a normal variable being between two bounds
value of normal variable given probability
probability of t between two values
t value for a given probability
combinations
permutations
What to type

polyroots(x2-2x-3,x)
f(x):=2x
v:= button-next-to-book, thing with squares
delvar x
l:={0,2,3}
ctrl up delete
nsolve(f(x)=2,x)
nsolve(f(x)=2,x=3)
nsolve(f(x)=2,x)|x<5 using ctrl=
nfmin(f(x),x)
nfmax(f(x),x)
factor(1729)
binomcdf(n, p, lb, ub) (both are included, ie lb<=x<=ub) 
or menu 5/6 5 D
geompdf(0.5,2) or menu 5 5 F
poisscdf(mu,lb,ub) or menu 5/6 5 up,
normalcdf(mu,sd,lb,ub) or menu 5/6 5 2
invnorm(p,mu,sd) or just invnorm(p) for standardized one
tcdf(lb, ub, df) or menu 5 5 5
invt(p, df)
ncr(n,r)
npr(n,r)