No Reciprocal Key?

[J. Barroso]

Thanks Jim. It is a disappointment that a calculator of this caliber does not have a reciprocal key. I hope to be mistaken. With long statistical formulas the reciprocal key is crucial. Withtout it, the Nspire cannot be called a decent calculator. If anyone knows where the reciprocal key is (or confirm what Jim said that there is not one) please reply here. I may sell this thing and go back to the Ti-84 - the Nspire is disappointing in many aspects and Ti does not care to listen to suggestions. Even a $14 calculator from Best Buy has reciprocal key in one keystroke.

Thanks Jim.

 

John

From: "tins...@googlegroups.com" <tins...@googlegroups.com>
To: Abridged Recipients <tins...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 8:25 AM
Subject: [tinspire] Abridged summary of tins...@googlegroups.com - 8 Messages in 3 Topics

  Today's Topic Summary

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/tinspire/topics

• Tangrams Activity [3 Updates]
• WHERE IS THE RECIPROCAL KEY ON NSPIRE CX CAS? [3 Updates]
• D2Editor in Lua [2 Updates]

 Tangrams Activity

 WHERE IS THE RECIPROCAL KEY ON NSPIRE CX CAS?

 D2Editor in Lua

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[Todd Morstein]

Can’t you raise it to the negative 1??

Scanned with Barracuda Firewall Systems.   ­­  

[Jim Fullerenex]

Hi John,

As an advanced user and a frequent visitor to TI-Cares, I'd like tell you a few things.

First of all, even fixing a CAS bug can be a really, really slow process, let alone designing a completely new keypad. 

Technically, I won't say "TI-Cares doesn't care". It's just that they might love to help but they simply can't. A bit pathetic.

Second, the Nspire keyboard doesn't even have a one-key stroke sine and cosine key. But it does have a complete alpha keyboard. So the merits and demerits are quite balanced out.

I recall that the "optional-enter" in trig palette, present in OS 2.x, was deleted in OS 3.x for no convincing reasons. I've been trying hard to persuade TI that reducing unnecessary keystrokes should be on their to-do lists.

Third, I've programmed statistical functions on Nspire extensively. I'm not sure why the reciprocal is a "crucial" function, but I'm pretty sure that trading Nspire for TI-84 is bad business. My experience tells me that Nspire beats TI-84 in literally EVERY way. A $14 calculator may have the reciprocal key, but it can't do ANOVA.

Best,

Jim

2012/4/11 J. Barroso <barr...@yahoo.com>

[alcoonslists]

I have to agree with Jim.  When I first started using the Nspire I wanted a reciprocal key because I was used to having one and I liked the efficiency.  I also felt that checking equations entered with "raised to "-1" was easier then "1/something".  But one rule of evaluating new technology is so see how additions and omissions work in practice.

1)  Since functions are displayed as fractions, I don't feel the need for the reciprocal key as much as I use to.

2)  Pressing ^-1 is not a big deal when I need it.

That having been said, would I like a reciprocal key if there was room?  Sure.  But to condemn the entire calculator for this one weakness seems like deciding a car is not very good because you don't like the location of the locking switch.

By the way, I find TI responsive to suggestions if you send the time to talk with them and find out their situation and plans.  

Al

Al Coons

Department of Mathematics

Buckingham Browne & Nichols

Cambridge, MA

AP Statistics Site: http://www.bbn-school.org/us/math/ap_stats/

[Michael Houston]

Al, thanks for your comments.  I agree with you.

One of the reasons I support the Nspire is because my students are talking about mathematics better than they ever have....which all started when I switched to using the Nspire.  For example, I asked my students what is one way we can solve a system of linear equations?  One answer I received was: "we could graph both equations, analyze the graph to find the intersection point".  That never happened when I was using the TI-84.  The fact that the reciprocal key is no longer doesn't bother me too much because I want my students to know what a reciprocal really means.  When it's a key-press, students tend to spend less time learning the mathematics and more time learning what keys to press.

Mike Houston

---

From: alcoon...@verizon.net
Subject: Re: [tinspire] No Reciprocal Key?
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:09:15 -0400
To: tins...@googlegroups.com

[Travis Bower]

John,
I'll echo the chorus...Nspire is way better than 84.
I will also validate your concern.  It is real, but it is miniscule.  Try not to let it cloud all the other wonderful features.
[I used to love the big pixels of 84 and the methodical [slow] plotting with the circle at the end.  Now I just chuckle at the nostalgia and animate the point after using a 'such that' command or piecewise function.  I had to learn the new way to do it and that is both exciting and frustrating!]
It still does reciprocal, it just takes a few more keystrokes; it is a tradeoff.
Give yourself a cooling off period and find some compensating features. Good luck.

[Ray Fox]

Try this little file I put together.

(I had help from users of this group!)

 

Ray

[alcoonslists]

Teaching Statistics with the Nspire:

One the great advantages for me of the Nspire over the TI-84 (which I love and is a great calculator even now)  has been the improvements in the area of TEACHING statistics - both AP and Non- AP.  Among those advantages are:

Larger data sets.

An easy to use filing system for storing many data sets (There is a way to do this on the 84 but it takes a lot of initial work using groups and programs).

Handling of categorical data sets.

Menu driven statistical routines (such as binomialcdf, inference tests and intervals, regression, and on-and-on)

Categorical plots.

Variable names on plots

Fathom like plotting and regression options in including color.

Full output of needed results (Such as SEb in linear regression and ME for confid intervals).

ANOVA and Multiple Regression

Learning Documents.

And as important as any of the others, computer software that allows a) screen captures that are professional enough not to distract when included in reports, and which students and teachers can work in get around the limitations of the HH keyboard and "mouse".

Al

-------------------------

Albert Coons

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Gerry's Landing Road

Cambridge, MA 02138

(617) 800-2264

AP Statistics Web Site:  www.bbn-school.org/us/math/ap_stats

[Joe]

Hi John,
In order to provide some balance I'd like to comment also. I have
followed closely the nspire series since It came out about six years
or so ago and while it has been improved considerably, it has taken
quite a few years for those improvements to occur and while I have
occasionally used the nspire, I also prefer other calc's. As the
regulars on this site know, I also prefer the teaching of math as
opposed to the teaching of calculator operation but I think that if
one is going to use a calculator any way, it should be the one that is
mathematically the most powerful and at the same time the easiest to
use and that of course would include a reciprocal key (among other
things) and not favor the nspire. As I said, I occasionally use an
nspire but it isn't my first choice. In fact, it isn't the first
choice for many people whom I know, so don't feel badly if you decide
to chuck it in the trash and use something else. On the other hand
you might ask TI to provide a reciprocal key and then wait for it to
happen. That of course is meant to be a joke considering how slowly
nspire improvements occur. One other thing. There is no nspire app
for the iPad and the choice between not using nspire technology or not
using my iPad is a no brainer. I'll keep the iPad.

On Apr 11, 7:18 am, "J. Barroso" <barro...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Thanks Jim. It is a disappointment that a calculator of this caliber does not have a reciprocal key. I hope to be mistaken. With long statistical formulas the reciprocal key is crucial. Withtout it, the Nspire cannot be called a decent calculator. If anyone knows where the reciprocal key is (or confirm what Jim said that there is not one) please reply here. I may sell this thing and go back to the Ti-84 - the Nspire is disappointing in many aspects and Ti does not care to listen to suggestions. Even a $14 calculator from Best Buy has reciprocal key in one keystroke.
> Thanks Jim.
>
> John
>

> ________________________________
>.

[Jim Fullerenex]

Btw, John, are you using Nspire CAS? If the version you bought is CAS, then there's even less room for loving TI84.

 FYI, the new OS 3.2 is on the way and presumably will be released in a few weeks. If you insist on throwing away Nspire, I'd suggest you postpone doing so until then. 

3.2 includes 3D parametric graphing (long asked for, finally turned into reality), conic graphing, variable subscript (this one's particularly nice), chemistry box, and a few new CAS functions (no exciting ones, unfortunately)

Best,

Jim

[alcoonslists]

I do think there have been two distinct periods for the Nspire. I will be kind in my choice of words and simple say that both the original Nspire hardware and software were difficult to use. We, the world of 6-12 math educators, continue to deal with the fallout of the early releases. To this day we deal with teachers who had to deal with so many difficulties and versions that they are frustrated with the NSpire. Students still have various versions so teachers deal with multiple sets of commands and keyboards. For those of us who focus on technology these do not seem like a big deal, but for those who do not it is very frustrating.

It is amazing how quickly students without the baggage of the earlier versions adopt to the most recent hardware and software. I wish we could start over again and wipe history clean. If all students and teachers first experience with the Nspire was the CX and OS 3 feelings would be different.

The Nspire ain't perfect by a long shot, but it a machine that the teachers in my department who have actively used it prefer.

Al

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Al
-------------------------
Albert Coons
al_c...@bbns.org

[Jim Fullerenex]

I think the active OS versions, from 2.1 to 3.1, are more a series than a set of parallels. 

OS 3.1 equals 2.1 plus a few new stuff, so I'd say dealing with 2.1 is like operating on a subset. Once you get accustomed to, say, OS 3.0, I'm not sure where the confusion or frustration comes from when you face OS 2.1 and OS 3.2. In fact, I think people (like John who started this post) are more frustrated by TI-Cares. As I've pointed out, sometimes they love to help but they simply can't, due to technical difficulties.

But I do agree that "getting started" is quite stressful on Nspire, given such a sophisticated machine. 

Best,

Jim

2012/4/12 alcoonslists <alcoon...@verizon.net>

[alcoonslists]

I agree with you Jim, but I am going back even further to the original keyboards and OS  before 2.1.

In terms of getting started, we are not finding it to be a big deal for the students to learn the NSpire in a given course with a progressive introduction of material as skills become necessary.  On the other hand, there is frustration for a teacher going cold turkey into a Nspire trying to quickly do more advanced skills that they know already on an TI-84.  We did not do a good job of educating our teachers before they had to use the Nspire.  I think that is the key for teachers -- good, focused education before they begin a course which is Nspire dependent.  Given all the free time teachers have, that should be easy :)

Al

[Lana Golembeski]

Al, you are funny ! Lol!

Sent from my iPhone

Lana

[Jim Fullerenex]

I see, Al. I've never used OS's before 2.1, so I don't have much to comment. ;)

[58%!]

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[alcoonslists]

A teacher at my school asks:

When I find, for example, zeros of a function on a graph screen are the value(s) available in a variable?  Another example would be the coordinates of the intersection of two functions on a graph screen.

Al 

[Andy Kemp]

Right click on the co-ordinate you are interested in and select store then call it whatever you want... Then you can use it wherever you need it.

On the handheld click in the coordinate and press store (ctrl + var I think)...

Cheers

Andy

Sent from my iPhone

[alcoonslists]

Thanks Andy,

Al

[alcoonslists]

In Press-to-Test mode (PTT) students are forced to select one mode and it cannot be changed. But what if you are doing both radians and degrees on say a final exam? Well, in most cases, you would select radians. When students do some computations (Right Triangle Trig, Law of Sines, Law of Cosines) they usually are entering a particular value, e.g. sin(57) so you use the degree symbol (call it d for emails sake) so enter sin(57d).

But what if students need to use both? They are doing transformations of functions in either degree or radians? You cannot use the degree symbol with expressions such as sin(2*pi*t/360). Yes you can store the expression as a variable and then add the degree symbol but not what we want.

So, I have suggested that PTT force degrees, radians, or allow student to change.

Al

[Andy Kemp]

PTT doesn't force the angle mode, it simply defaults the angle mode to whatever you chose.

You can still go back to the home page and change the angle settings from there.

Cheers

Andy

[alcoonslists]

Are you sure?  I tried it and then TI-Cares confirmed you cannot change it.  Will try again tomrrow.

Thanks,

Al

[Andy Kemp]

Positive - I've tested on two calculators...

[Levak Borok]

Who cares now ...

2012/5/8 Andy Kemp <an...@kemp.co>

[alcoonslists]

I did something stupid (again :).  It does work fine.   

Thanks for the heads up.

Al