How to Plug in X and Y Values on Ti-84

How to Evaluate Functions with TI-83/84

Copyright � 2001�2021 by Stan Brown, BrownMath.com

Summary: Very often, you need to evaluate a function for several values of x. Examples: finding a limit or an approximation numerically, plotting on paper by plotting points. This page gives you two techniques, creating a table of values and tracing a graph. We�ll use this function to show the methods:

f(x) = (x� − 1) / (x − 1).

See also: How to Graph Functions on TI-83/84
How to Graph Piecewise Functions on TI-83/84

Both Methods: Enter the Function

You have to tell the TI-83/84 what your function is, before you can use Method 1 or Method 2.

If any other plots are active (highlighted), you need to turn them off. If nothing is highlighted on your Y= screen, you can skip this step.  It so happens that I had Plot1 and Y2 active, as you can see below left. In the right-hand panel I�ve deactivated both of them.	Press [Y=].  Use the blue arrow keys to move the cursor onto every highlighted = sign or Plot number, and press [ENTER]. Your screen will look different, but that�s okay as long as you have nothing highlighted.
Enter the function.	Cursor to any empty Y= slot.  Press [(] [x,T,θ,n] [^] [3] [−] 1 [)] [�] [(] [x,T,θ,n] [−] 1 [)] [ENTER].

You may be using a different function number, but make sure your entry looks like my Y3. If you made a mistake, go back and edit it.

Method 1: Table of Values

This method works strictly by numbers.

	Press [ 2ndWINDOW makes TBLSET].
The first two rows don�t matter.	Press [▼] [▼] to get to the �Indpnt� row. This controls the independent variable x.  Press [►] [ENTER] to select �Ask.�  Press [▼] [ENTER] to select �Depend: Auto.�

Your top two rows may be different, but your bottom two rows will look like the screen at right. These settings tell the TI-83/84 to ask you for values of the independent variable x, then automatically calculate the values of the dependent variable f(x).

Now you can evaluate the function at selected x values.	Press [ 2ndGRAPH makes TABLE].  You may see some values on the table screen. They don�t do any harm, but if you want you can get rid of them by hitting [DEL] several times.
Enter the x values, one at a time. For instance, to home in on the limit as x approaches 1, we might enter .5, .75, .9, .99, and so on.	Enter each x number and press [ENTER]. The TI-83/84 immediately displays the function value.

Method 2: Trace on the Graph

This method is a little more work, but you get a picture of the function. Start by entering the function on the Y= screen as shown above.

Set formatting so that the desired information will appear on your graph.	Press [ 2ndZOOM makes FORMAT].   The other settings are not critical, but you need CoordOn and ExprOn. Press the arrow keys and [ENTER] to set the modes.
Either set up the Window screen, or use �Zoom Standard� for a first look at the graph. It happens that we want the limit as x goes to 1. Since that fits within the standard window, we�ll use Zoom Standard this time.	Press [ZOOM] [6] to select ZoomStd. The graph should appear (below left).   Press [TRACE], then enter an .x value, then [ENTER]. You should see the function, the x value, and the y value displayed (below right).
Enter any other values, such as .99, .995, .999. The dot will move along the graph, and the new y values will be displayed.	You don�t have to press [TRACE] again. Simply enter each new x value, followed by [ENTER].

For this function it�s not an issue, but for other functions if your x value is outside the window, you need to press [WINDOW] and adjust Xmin or Xmax. You can only trace x values that are between Xmin and Xmax.

How to Plug in X and Y Values on Ti-84

Source: https://brownmath.com/ti83/funcval.htm

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