This year we will be using the NumWorks graphing calculator in our math class! This activity will help you get to know the calculator and some of the features we will be using in this class.

The keyboard

Before we get started, let's take a closer look at the keyboard. You'll see it is arranged into three different zones.

In the bottom section, you will find basic operations and the number pad. Notice that there is only one minus key. Here you will also find the Ans key which allows you to use the most recent result in your calculations. To compute a calculation, press the EXE key.

In the middle section, you will find some advanced functions and commonly used values. What keys do you recognize in this section?

In the top row of the Advanced Functions section, you will find the shift key which gives you access to the yellow option of each key. The alpha key can be used select the alpha characters on each key. The xnt key is a quick way to enter $x$ (or other variables as needed). The var key opens a menu of stored values. The Toolbox Toolbox provides additional functions organized in categories. Finally, the Backspace key works just like on your computer or phone to backspace.

The top section is the Navigation Zone where you have arrow keys to navigate the screen, the OK key to make selections and a Back key to take you back to a previous menu. The Home button will return you to the home screen and the Power button turns the calculator on and off.

Navigate around the home screen. How many applications are there?

The applications

The NumWorks calculator is app-based, just like a phone. That means you will open different applications based on the task you are completing. Let's dive into some of the apps to see what they do!

Calculation

The Calculation application is where you will do all of your... calculations!

Navigate to the Calculation application and open it by pressing OK.

1. Let's add some fractions! By hand, add $\frac{1}{6}+\frac{1}{2}$.

$\frac{1}{6}+\frac{1}{2}$

$=\frac{1}{6}+\frac{3}{6}$

$=\frac{4}{6}$

$=\frac{2}{3}$

2. Check your work by using the calculator. To input $\frac{1}{6}$, press the one key followed by the division key. Then press the six key. Use the right arrow key to get out of the denominator before adding the other fraction. What do you notice about your answer?



The calculator provides both the simplified fraction and decimal approximation.

3. Use your calculator to subtract $\frac{9}{5}-\frac{4}{10}$.



4. How do the results of the last two calculations differ?

For the first calculation, the decimal result was an approximation and the "approximately equal to" symbol was used. In the second calculation, the decimal result was exact and the "equal to" symbol was used.

5. Use the up arrow key to navigate into your calculation history. Do you see the three dots on the right side of the screen? That means there are additional results for that calculation. Navigate over to the three dots and press OK. What additional results are provided for this calculation?





The additional results for $\frac{7}{5}$ include the mixed fraction and Euclidean division representations.

6. Press the Back key until you return to the editing bar. Now, open the Toolbox by pressing the toolbox key. Navigate through the Toolbox and list any functions that you know.



Student responses will vary.

Grapher

Graphing functions is simple within the Grapher application.

To open the Grapher application, first press the home key to return to the home screen. Then navigate to the Grapher application and open it by pressing OK.

Our goal will be to graph the linear function $y=3x+5$, look at its features and view the table.

Notice that there are three tabs at the top of the screen: Expressions, Graph and Table.

The Expressions tab is where you will enter your function.

1. Press OK to Add an element. There are some templates you can use when entering expressions. For this example, select the $y=x$ template.

   

2. To enter the function $y=3x+5$, first use the left key to move your cursor to the left of the $x$ and add the coefficent $3$. Now use the right key and finish the expression. Once your function is completed, press OK or EXE.

   

The Graph tab will plot the graphs of your functions and provide tools for exploring key characteristics.

1. To view the graph, either navigate down to Plot graph or up and over to the Graph tab and press OK.

   

2. The auto zoom generally provides a window that you will find useful. Press the plus and minus keys to zoom in and out. To return to the auto zoom, navigate up and select "Auto".
3. Use the left and right keys to trace the line. Navigate to $x=-2$. What is the value of $y$?

   

   When $x=-2$, $y=-1$.

4. Press the four key followed by OK as a shortcut to quickly navigate to $x=4$. What is the value of $y$?

   

   When $x=4$, $y=17$.

5. Navigate up and over to the Calculate menu and open it by pressing OK. Then open the Find menu. This menu provides tools for finding key characteristics of our graph. Use the Inverse image option to determine the value of $x$ when $y=10.$

   

   

   

   When $y=10$, $x=1.667$.

The Table tab provides a table of points for your function.

1. To view the table, navigate up and over to the Table tab and press OK.

   

2. The table displays the $x$ and $y$ values for $x=0$ through $x=10$. Copy down the values of $y$ in the table below.

   x	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
   y

   x	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
   y	5	8	11	14	17	20	23	26	29	32	35

3. Let's say we wanted to know the value of $y$ when $x=100$. Highlight any of the current x-values and type $100$. Press EXE. You will now see the value of $y$ in the table. What is $y$?

   

   When $x=100$, $y=305$.

Solver

Now let's head to the Solver application to solve equations and systems of linear equations.

To open the Solver application, first press the home key to return to the home screen. Then navigate to the Solver application and open it by pressing OK.

We want to solve the equation: $4-3(x-2)=2-7x$.

1. First, solve this equation by hand.

   $4-3(x-2)=2-7x$

   $4-3x+6=2-7x$

   $10-3x=2-7x$

   $8=-4x$

   $x=-2$

2. Now check your work by using the calculator to solve. Enter the Equations section by pressing OK.

   

3. Similar to the Grapher application, when you press OK to Add equation, you can either use an "Empty" template or one of the premade templates. Use the empty template and enter the equation $4-3(x-2)=2-7x$.

   

4. Navigate down to Solve the equation and press OK. What is the value of x?

   

   The solution is $x=-2$.

Now, let's use our Equation solver to solve a system of linear equations.

1. Press the Back key to return to the equation editor.
2. Use the backspace key to delete the equation.
3. Use and edit the $x+y=0$ template to enter the equation $-7x-6y=4$.
4. Add another equation and use the empty template to enter the equation $x=-3y+8$.

   

5. Navigate down to Solve the system and press OK. What is the solution to this system?

   

   The solution is $\left(-4,4\right)$.

Regression

The Regression application plots scatterplots and provides the line of best fit.

To open the Regression application, first press the home key to return to the home screen. Then navigate to the Regression application and open it by pressing OK.

Just like with the Statistics app, the Regression app also has three tabs at the top of the screen: Data, Graph and Stats.

The table below shows the relationship between quiz scores (out of 20) and study time (in hours) for a few students in a class.

1. On the Data tab, enter the values of "Study time" into the X1 column and the values of "Score" into the Y1 column.

   

2. Navigate up and over to the Graph tab to view the scatterplot.

   

3. Use the left and right keys to navigate through the data points. Notice that the values of $x$ and $y$ appear in the bottom banner.
4. How would you describe the relationship between Study time and Score?

   There appears to be a positive, linear relationship. The more time a student studies, the higher their quiz score is.

Let's find the line of best fit.

1. While viewing the scatterplot on the Graph tab, press OK to open the list of regression models.
2. Press OK on Linear.

   

3. Use the left and right keys to navigate through the data points. While on a data point, use the up or down keys to navigate onto the line of best fit. What is the regression equation (round to the nearest hundredth)?



The equation of the line of best fit is $\hat{y}=4.65x+6.18$

4. You can also find the equation of the line of best fit in the Regression menu. Press the Toolbox key to open the Regression menu and find the equation of the line.

   

We can use the equation of the line to make predictions for scores based on other study times.

1. While in the Regression menu, navigate down to Predict Y given X and press OK.

   

2. Predict the quiz score for a student who studied for 2 hours by entering $2$ for $x$. What is the predicted score?

   

   

   A student who studies for 2 hours is predicted to score a 15.48 on average.

3. Use the back key to return the the Regression menu and navigate down to Find X given predicted Y.

   

4. Determine how many hours of studying a student would need in order to earn a score of 18 on the quiz by entering $18$ for $y$.

   

   

   It is predicted that to earn an 18, a student must study for 2.54 hours, on average.

The Stats tab provides summary statistics for our dataset.

1. Navigate to the Stats tab and find the row Mean $\bar{x}$. This reports the mean or average for X1 and Y1.

   

2. What is the average amount of time these students studied (round to the nearest hundredth)?

   

   The average amount of time studied by these students is 1.78 hours.

3. What is the average quiz score for these students (round to the nearest hundredth)?

   

   The average score made by these students is 14.44.

Keep exploring!

There's a lot more you can do on the NumWorks calculator! Keep exploring the applications and check out the short tutorials at num.works/tutorials.