TAKS Tutorial

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TAKS Tutorial

• Calculator Strategies

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When it comes to the calculator, you are on your
own

• Most teachers who will monitor the test know
  absolutely nothing about these calculators
• Even if they did know about the calculator, they
  are not allowed to assist you in any way

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Know how to clear the memory of your calculator

• If something goes funky with the calculator,
  reset it.
• 2nd, Memory (), Reset (7), All RAM (1), Reset
  (2)
• 2nd, , 7, 1, 2

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2nd 7
1
2
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Use the y to match equations with graphs
and/or tables.
The table below shows various values for x and y.
Enter the answer choices into the calculator
through the y feature and then look at the
tables to find a match.
Which equation best describes the relationship
between x and y? A. y -3x 5 B. y -5x -
7 C. y -x 17 D. y 3x 41
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If your table jumps around as the last one did
and you do not wish to scroll

• You may set your table to ASK you for specific
  domain (x) values

When asking it will not matter where the table
starts or what the change in table is
Move the cursor to Ask for the Independent
variable only
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If your table jumps around as the last one did
and you do not wish to scroll

• You may set your table to ASK you for specific
  domain (x) values

Now, when you go to TABLE, you will not see
anything except the cursor waiting for you to
input an x-value.
Then, one at a time, enter the domain values from
the given table. The corresponding y-values come
up automatically.
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To put your calculator table back to the way it
was, either reset or

• Go back to TBLSET and put Auto back on for the
  Indpnt variable.

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Use the STO key to store values for variables
to match equivalent expressions with more than
one variable.

• You will need to select numbers of your choosing
  to be the values for the variables in the
  expression. Please do NOT use 0, 1, or -1 as
  sometimes things are true of those numbers but
  not of anything else.
• Each variable should have a different value
  stored for it.

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Which expression represents the area of a
rectangle with sides measuring 2x2y4z units and
5xy4z3 units? F. 7x2y8z3 units2 G. 7x3y8z4
units2 H. 10x3y8z4 units2 J. 10x2y8z3 units2
Select 3 different numbers to store for x, y, and
z. Press the button for the first number, press
the STO button, press the letter of the
alphabet representing the variable, and then
enter. Repeat this procedure for each variable.
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Press the button for the first number,
press the STO button,
press the letter of the alphabet representing the
variable,
and then enter.
Repeat this procedure for each variable.
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The figure described is a rectangle. Draw and
label one.
The problem asked which expression represents the
AREA. Area of a rectangle is length times width.
(The formula is on the math chart.)
You are going to enter into the home screen of
your calculator the expressions found here for
length times width (2x2y4z)(5xy4z3)
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Now, you want to go to TEST (2nd MATH)
Since you want the equal sign and it is already
highlighted, press ENTER. Notice, the equal sign
appears after your expression for area.
And, one by one, type in the answer choices into
the calculator just as they appear.
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If the answer choice has an expression that is
EQUAL to the area expression, when you ENTER you
will get 1 for an answer.
If the answer choice has an expression that in
NOT EQUAL to the area expression, when you ENTER
you will get 0 for an answer.
Option F is not the correct answer.
Since we have a 0, answer choice F is not
correct and we need to repeat this procedure
using G.
Repeating the procedure does NOT mean that you
have to retype everything! Press 2nd ENTER.
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Repeating the procedure does NOT mean that you
have to retype everything! Press 2nd ENTER.
Notice that the step above just reappears. Now,
backspace until you get to the equal sign
Another zero! Repeat with option H. 2nd ENTER,
backspace to the equal, type in option H, and
ENTER.
And type over the old choice with the new choice
or delete the old choice and type in the new.
Looks like H is the answer. Repeat with J just to
be sure!
ENTER
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Which expression represents the area of a
rectangle with sides measuring 2x2y4z units and
5xy4z3 units? F. 7x2y8z3 units2 G. 7x3y8z4
units2 H. 10x3y8z4 units2 J. 10x2y8z3 units2
Sure enough, option H is the correct answer.
Do you have to do ALL of this work? NO. If you
know that 2 times 5 is 10, you could have
eliminated entering in choices F and G. If you
know the rules for when you add, subtract, and
multiply exponents for same bases and trust your
own memories and work, then make your selection.
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This next problem could be done the same way as
the last problem.

• However, since there is only one variable in this
  problem (instead of 3 as in the last one) there
  is another way we can work this one out on the
  calculator without having to use the STO and
  TEST keys.

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Tammy drew a floor plan for her kitchen as shown
below.
Once again, this problem refers to AREA of the
rectangular kitchen. We already know that means
finding length times width.
Which expression represents the area of Tammys
kitchen floor in square units? F. 6x2 30x
5 G. 6x2 13x 5 H. 10x 12 J. 5x 6
The expression for Area, then, would be (3x
5)(2x 1)
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Tammy drew a floor plan for her kitchen as shown
below.
But this time, we are going to use y instead
of STO, since there is only the variable x used
in the expressions.
Which expression represents the area of Tammys
kitchen floor in square units? F. 6x2 30x
5 G. 6x2 13x 5 H. 10x 12 J. 5x 6
Enter the expression (3x 5)(2x 1) in y1
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Tammy drew a floor plan for her kitchen as shown
below.
One by one, enter the answer choices into y2.
Then, graph. If both equations have exactly the
same graph, the two expressions are equivalent
and you found your correct answer.
Which expression represents the area of Tammys
kitchen floor in square units? F. 6x2 30x
5 G. 6x2 13x 5 H. 10x 12 J. 5x 6
Changing to this option allows you to follow
along as the 2nd function is graphed.
F is not the correct answer since the two graphs
are different.
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Tammy drew a floor plan for her kitchen as shown
below.
Replace choice F in y2 with choice G and graph.
Which expression represents the area of Tammys
kitchen floor in square units? F. 6x2 30x
5 G. 6x2 13x 5 H. 10x 12 J. 5x 6
Did you watch as the little circle made its way
around the same parabola? Option G is the correct
choice.
To be safe, you can check options H J. If you
realize that those two options are linear (no
seen exponents for x), their graphs could never
be a parabola and thus are not correct answer
choices.
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Use STATPLOT to compare points or scatter plots.
Which point on the grid below best represents the
coordinates ?
Press the STAT button.
,
A. Point K B. Point M C. Point R D. Point U
Select EDIT
Enter 8/3 in L1
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Which point on the grid below best represents the
coordinates ?
Go to STAT PLOT (2nd y)
When you enter, the calculator will change the
fraction into a decimal.
Enter and turn on the plot by entering again. You
should see xlist L1 for the x-coordinate
ylist L2 for the y-coordinate.
,
Enter 7/3 into L2
Set the window to the scale in the problem so you
can make a good comparison.
And graph.
And a y-coordinate between 2 3.
This point has an x-coordinate between 2 and 3.
A. Point K B. Point M C. Point R D. Point U
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To clear any numbers in a list, you may

• Reset the calculator (2nd 7 1 2) which will
  also reset the window on the graph.
• 2nd 4 ClrAllLists
• Or while in the list, highlight the list name,
  press CLEAR, and enter. Do NOT delete!

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Use the calculator to solve systems.
If the system of linear equations 2x y 1 and
y - x 1 are graphed on the same coordinate
grid, which of the following is the solution to
this system of linear equations? A. (2, 0) B.
(0, 2) C. (0.5, 0) D. Not here
2x y 1 is not yet calculator friendly! Get
the y by itself by subtracting 2x from each
side. y 1 2x
Enter both equations using the y feature.
Graph. Adjust the window, if necessary to see the
point of intersection.
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You want to go to the CALC feature (2nd TRACE)
Select intersect since that is what you are
looking for.
Since there is only 1 point of intersection,
Enter when the calculator says First curve?,
Second curve?, and Guess
The coordinates of the point of intersection,
which is the solution, are shown at the bottom of
the window. (0, 1) is the point where these two
lines intersect.
Looking at the answer choices, the correct
solution is not there.
A. (2, 0) B. (0, 2) C. (0.5, 0) D. Not here
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Know how to use the calculator to change decimals
to fractions and vice-versa.

• Typing in a fraction and pressing ENTER
  automatically gives you a decimal.
• To get a fraction from a decimal, use the MATH
  button. The highlighted option is convert to
  Fraction Frac

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Know how to get back to the home screen.

• 2nd QUIT will get you there

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Be sure to use parentheses when fractions are
involved.

• must go into the calculator as
• y (2 5x)/7
• or else you will get the wrong graph!
• Check it out! The two lines are NOT the same.

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where x 4

• MUST go into the calculator as
• (4 6)/(34-1)
• or else you will get the wrong answer.
• Check it out and see what happens when you dont
  have the parenthesesboth sets!

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Know how to change your table settings.
You set the number where you want the table to
start
You set the scale that you want the values in the
table to go by
You determine whether you want the table to be
filled in automatically as you set it up or to
have it wait for you to give it x-values to find.
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Lets use this equation. You will see different
tables for this same function based upon how you
set the table to appear.
Starting with -3 and going by 1.
Starting with -5 and going by 10.
Starting with 2 and going by 0.1.
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There are different settings you can use on the
graphs
Makes a thicker line
Makes a regular line
Makes a regular line and shades above the line
Makes a regular line and shades below the line
These options come from backspacing and pressing
ENTER
Shows where the graph goes and makes a regular
line
Makes a dotted line
Shows where the graph goes but makes NO line
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Practice Problems
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The first thing you should notice is that all of
the inequalities have 5 as the y-intercept and a
negative slope and no equal sign.
There are several things you can do with these
answer choices to eliminate a few so you wont
have to graph so many.
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Then, whether you plan to use the graphing
calculator or not, you need to know that when the
inequality sign points to y, as in B and C, the
shading is below the line. Since our shading is
above the line, we can eliminate these two graphs.
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For the remaining two choices, you either need to
count the slope, starting at the y-intercept or
you test the x-intercept of 4 by substituting 4
in for x to see if you get y 0 or use the
calculator to graph and see if the x-intercept is
4.
Since todays tutorial is on calculator usage,
that is the method we are going to use.
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Shaded above
To be safe, fraction in ( ).
The x-intercept is NOT 4. Wrong choice
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Shaded above
To be safe, fraction in ( ).
The x-intercept IS 4. Choice D is verified.
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This problem can be done a few ways, also.
Remember, x-intercepts have y 0, so you can
substitute 0 for y and solve for x. Y-intercepts
have x 0, so you can substitute 0 for x and
solve for y. Or you can graph. If you want to do
the graphing by hand, remember that there is a
blank sheet of graph paper at the end of the math
section for you to use as you choose.
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Since this tutorial is about using the
calculator, that is the way we are going to do
this problem.
The given equation is not calculator friendly. We
need to put the equation in y form. Remember,
there is an understood -1 in front of y, due to
the subtraction sign.
You do NOT have to put the equation in
slope-intercept form, just calculator friendly
form. The calculator will do the rest.
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2x y 8 is 2x 1y 8. Subtracting 2x, we get
-1y 8 2x Then, dividing by -1, we get the
calculator friendly form y (8
2x)/-1
You absolutely MUST have the parentheses around
the numerator!
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The x-intercept appears to be 4
The y-intercept is negative. We have no choices
with negatives.
Lets eliminate the y-intercept choices.
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You can either substitute the r-values, by hand
or on the calculator home screen, one-by-one to
make sure that you get the corresponding
n-values. And yes, you must check all of them
until you find a value that does not work.
Or, you can type the answer choices in y and
match the table of values. Let n y and r x,
and you will be just fine.
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Not answer choice B
Not answer choice A
ALL 4 of the ordered pairs match. This is the one!
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There is only one variable in these expressions.
Put the problems expression in y1 and the answer
choices, one-by-one, in y2. Remember, you want
matching graphs.
They matched! Check the others to be sure, though.
Allows me to watch as the graph is plotted.
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Definitely not this one, either. Looks like F is
the correct answer choice.
Doesnt look like it, but lets adjust the window.
NOPE
NO
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These expressions have more than 1 variable. We
want to store a number into the calculator for
each of these variables and use the TEST feature.
Remember, you pick whatever numbers you want,
except 0, 1, or -1.
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Type in the expression for the problem. BE
CAREFUL! You need extra parentheses around the
entire numerator and around the entire
denominator.
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You now want TEST (2nd MATH) and enter to get the
equal sign.
Now, type in your answer choices, one at a time.
Again, extra parentheses around the numerator and
the denominator.
Remember, when you get a zero, the two
expressions are NOT EQUAL
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Press 2nd ENTER to get the last step again.
Backspace to the equal sign and either delete or
type over the old option.
We have a 1. That means the two expression ARE
EQUAL
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Verify that the two remaining answer choices are
NOT EQUAL before you select G as the correct
answer. Be careful that you correctly type in
all expressions! Remember to put those extra
parentheses around both the numerator and the
denominator.
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Since these problems are kind of complicated to
do on the calculator and since you probably
havent used this procedure very much, here is
another problem. You can either use those same 3
values that you already have stored in for a, b,
and c, or you can change them.
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Remember, correctly type in the expression from
the problem, using an extra set of parentheses
around both the numerator and the denominator.
Then, go to TEST, select the equal sign, and type
in the answer choices, one at a time. Extra
parentheses are needed around entire numerators
and entire denominators.
NOT A
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2nd ENTER to get the previous operation.
Backspace to the equal sign and enter the next
answer choice.
NOT B
Not C, either
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If this graph is shifted UP, the
y-intercept/vertex should be higher. Logically,
you should eliminate J because -8 is lower than
-3.
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Lets type the original function in y1 and the
answer choices, one at a time, in y2 and see
which parabola shifted UP 5 units.
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Count the hash marks. The new graph shift up 8
units. Too high!
Answer choices will have a thicker line
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Count the hash marks. The new graph shift up 5
units. This is it!
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If you count, you can see that between 0 and 1,
there are 4 spaceson each axis. That means that
the grid is divided into fourths.
T is located on the 3rd space past 0 on the
x-axis so its x-coordinate is ¾ . That means we
are looking at options G and H.
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T is located on the 5rd space below 0 on the
y-axis so its y-coordinate is -5/4 . That means
the correct option is G.
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Now, if you have no clue about these points, you
will want to use the STAT button on your
calculator.
Adjust the window on your calculator to match the
scale here. You are going from -2.5 to 2.5
by ¼ or .25 on each axis.
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Recall, when you enter fractions into the
calculator, they are changed into decimal form.
Be sure that the STAT PLOT is turned on with the
proper lists.
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And then graph.
This point is way too low to be point T.
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5 below zero
Try again.
3 to the right of zero
This point looks better. Count.
5 below zero
3 to the right of zero
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We are looking for C when they have given us F.
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We can solve this equation the traditional
wayusing the undo process.
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Alternate method
We can solve this equation by using the table
feature of the graphing calculator.
Enter the equation.
Go to the table.
Scroll down the table until you find 104 in the
y-column
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Alternate method
You need to be able to see in the window where
the two lines intersect. That place looks way off
to the right.
Or we could use the graph and CALC features of
the graphing calculator
Enter the equation in y1 and 104 in y2.
Adjust the window again. Lets try the xmax at 50.
Adjust the window You need ymax to be higher
than 104
Graph
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Alternate method
Press 2nd TRACE so that you get CALC. Now, select
Intersect.
Move the cursor to be close to the point of
intersection.
Enter again for the second curve? And guess?
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This problem was NOT multiple choice. You have to
bubble in your answer correctly!

• Be careful!!! After going through all that work
  to get the correct answer, you dont want the
  problem to be scored as wrong because you didnt
  bubble in the answer properly!

4
0
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Remember, all past tutorials can be found on Mrs.
Nelsons website.

• There is a link to that site on the Spring High
  webpage.
• Your teachers will be ready to answer any
  questions you might have in class tomorrow and
  Monday.
• Come to take the test RESTED!
• Look at the posted roll sheets to see what day(s)
  you are testing and where.

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We have confidence in YOU! You should have
confidence in YOU!

• Remember, you only need to get a few more than
  half of the problems correct to pass this test!
• Do what you know how to do FIRST!