TI-82/83 Piecewise/Inequality Function Tutorial

Piecewise Functions

To graph multi-part functions on the graphing calculator you will need to use the TEST
button. To access the TEST button on all three calculators you will need to use the 2nd
button. This will give you a list of inequality symbols that will be needed to graph multi-
part functions.

We will use <= to symbolize less than or equal to, and => to symbolize greater than or
equal to in the following material.

In graphing piecewise defined functions it is best to be in Dot Mode.

On the TI 82 and TI 83 press the MODE button. Use the down arrow to move the cursor
to CONNECTED. Now use the right arrow to move the cursor to DOT and press
ENTER. You will now be in Dot Mode.

Example graph:

2x+1, x<=-3
f(x)= 3x+2, -3<x<1
x^2-2, x=>1

Using the TI 82 or TI 83 start by pushing Y=. Now enter the following(2x+1)(x at this
point press 2nd then TEST then 6, this will give you the less than or equal symbol. Now
finish with -3). The equation should look like

Y1=(2x+1)(x<=-3)

To do the middle part, 3x+2, -3<x<1, on the TI82, TI83, TI85, enter the following
(3x+2)(-3 at this point access the TEST button and enter the appropriate symbol. Now
finish with x)(x again access TEST button and use the appropriate symbol. Now finish
with 1) The equation should look like

Y2=(3x+2)(-3<x)(x<1)

The third part of this multi-part function is done the same way the first part was done.
The equation should look like

Y3=(x^2-2)(x=>1)
Credited to http://www.utm.edu/staff/davidray/calculators.htm
 SOLVING COMPOUND INEQUALITIES ON THE TI 83/84

To access special functions:

For inequality symbols hit 2nd then the MATH key

For the connectors and/or hit 2nd then the MATH function and move right to choose
LOGIC

To eliminate connecting segments that are not part of the solution hit the MODE KEY
Then change from CONNECTED to DOT.

To be able to see the line y=0, either go to y= and move to the left of y=and hit the
ENTER key until a heavy line is displayed (enter once) or go to 2nd ZOOM and choose
Axes off.

1. On the Home screen enter the sentence 2>3 and ENTER. The result will be 0 which
indicates the sentence is false.

Enter 3>2, then ENTER. This time the result will be 1 because the sentence is true.

Enter the sentence 2>3 OR 4>3 and ENTER. The result is 1. (TRUE)

Enter 2>3 AND 4>3 and ENTER. The result is 0. (False)

2. Hit the y key and enter x > 2 AND x>5. Then hit GRAPH. The graph will be a
horizontal line y=1for all the values of x for which the sentence is TRUE and a horizontal
line y=0 for all values of x for which the sentence is FALSE.

Enter 2nd and the WINDOW key to set up a Table. Choose a value to display first in the
table and what you want the change in values for the input to be. (OR choose the ASK
MODE for the Independent variable and put in values you want to check directly. Choose
2nd Graph to look at a Table. If y= 1 for a given x value, that value makes the compound
sentence true. If they = 0 for a given input, that input makes the sentence false.

As Texas Instruments develops newer models of the graphing calculators, some of the
requirements for obtaining the correct graph changes. Newer models do not need to be
changed to DOT mode as the calculator has been updated to no longer try to connect
parts of a graph that should not be connected. ****It is always necessary to write the
parts of the compound sentence with x on the left side.

*****For instance -2 <x <5 must be entered as x>-2 AND x < 5.

Credited to www.math.jmu.edu