Texas instruments TI-89, TI-92 PLUS An Introduction to the Symbolic Math Guide

An Introduction to the Symbolic Math Guide

15

Purpose of Symbolic Math Guide (SMG): To help students learn algebra and some aspects of calculus by guiding them as they develop correct textbook-like solutions. SMG can be used when a student first learns a topic or as quick review.

SMG is a tool for learning algebra that provides additional help to support textbooks and teachers.
It is not a powerful computer algebra system that can solve large classes of difficult problems. If

you wish to expand (x + y)
of the TI-89, TI-92 Plus, Voyage™ 200, TI-Interactive!™, or Derive™.

Features:

• Work is organized by problem sets. SMG comes with sample problems. Teachers, publishers,

and students can create their own sets.

• Students work problems by choosing from problem-solving options that SMG provides based

on the problem and the current solution step.

• Students learn strategy in the absence of arithmetic mistakes and lower level algebra.

• Students learn to think about math objects, how to classify them, and what transformations

apply to them at various stages of solving problems.

• The transformations suggested are designed to focus on the new material being learned.

or do other complicated problems, you should use the Home screen

A Brief Guided Tour

You will need:

• TI-89/TI-92 Plus or Voyage™ 200 with the Advanced Mathematics operating system version

2.08 or higher)

• Symbolic Math Guide (ver 1.5 or higher).

• Problem Set Tourps.

Let’s start solving problems with Symbolic Math Guide!

1. Press ´ to start the calculator.

2. Press O and highlight Symbolic Math Guide.

3. Press ¸ ¸.

4. Choose Open and then press ¸.

5. Open Tourps, which contains the problems we will use for this guided tour. Note that the

first problem is ready for you to work.

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An Introduction to Symbolic Math Guide

3⋅x+1=x−2

MAIN PROCESS: For each step

A. Think about what you want to do next.
B. Press †to see a list of possible transformations.
C. If you see what you want to do, press the corresponding number and follow the instructions.

Anticipate the result produced by your choice.

D. If you don’t see what you want to do, choose the best choice offered or choose a different part

of the current math object (See below after Problem 5.).

E. If you need help understanding the goal of solving a problem, press [‰:1].

Problem 1: Solve linear equation

for x.

SMG feature: For maximum learning, students should anticipate the result of each
transformation. Writing each step down with pencil and paper helps some students. When in the
TIME TO THINK mode, SMG gives students extra time to write their next step by waiting until
they press

¸

to show the result. Students will probably not want to use this mode when they
are using SMG to review material previously learned. To turn TIME TO THINK mode ON and
OFF, go to Format screen (ƒ: 9).

1. Press † and choose a transformation that will accomplish this goal. For example, press †

and choose subtract ? from each side and type x when prompted.

2. Press ¸ to clean-up the result.

3. Move the 1 to the right-side. Press † and choose subtract…

4. Press ¸ to clean-up the result.

5. Press † and choose divide…

6. Press ¸ to clean-up the result.

7. Press C repeatedly to scroll through your solution.

SMG Feature: As you have just seen, SMG will show the details of a transformation. To clean-
up the result of a transformation without choosing a transformation from †, press ¸. This
allows students to focus on the current new material without having to go through the details of
previous work. If you want your students to handle the details themselves, have them choose
appropriate transformations from †.

8. To move to the next problem, press ˆ:1.

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An Introduction to Symbolic Math Guide

=+⋅

≠

Problem 2: Simplify monomial

32

yy ⋅ .

1. Press [ˆ:1] if you haven’t already.

2. Press † and choose A^U • A^V -> A^(U+V).

3. Press

4. Press the up cursor to go up to the original math object

¸

to clean up the previous result.

32

yy ⋅ .

5. Choose a different transformation. The old transformation and result are replaced.

SMG Feature: SMG has ‘quick keys’ for certain frequently used transformations. For example
press « to add ? to each side of an equation.

SMG Feature: SMG implements domain constraints. When a transformation changes the domain
of definition, new conditions are displayed as part of the result.

6. To move to the next problem, press ˆ:1.

Problem 3: Solve linear equation bxc

3 for x.

1. If you are not sure of the goal of solving this problem, press ‰:1. We want to move the 3 on

the left side to the right side.

2. Press quick key |. Type 3. Press ¸.

3. Press ¸.

4. Press e. Type c. Press ¸. Dialog box “This action …” shows up.

5. Press ¸ to continue. Please note that the Problems statement has been modified to

include the constraint

0

c .

6. Press ¸ to simplify the result.

7. Press ˆ:1 to move to the next problem in the current problem set.

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