Changing the Mode on the TI-86

The text talks about using the calculator to automatically round off values by changing the MODE setting. This page demonstrates doing that on the TI-86.

Figure 1 We start with a screen that has a simple problem, find the square root of 11. The keys needed for this are and . Note that the answer is given with the usual 12 digits.

Figure 2 Now we will enter the MODE menu by pressing the keys. Figure 2 shows the result. What does not appear in Figure 2 is the flashing of the highlight on the word NORMAL on the first line. That flashing indicates the location of the cursor or pointer. The highlighted values on each line are the current setting for the particular set of values. In particular, on the second line the word FLOAT is highlighted to indicate that the setting for the number of decimal places to display is given as FLOAT, meaning, show as many as are available (but not the hidden digits).

Figure 3 To move from Figure 2 to Figure 3 we will need to move down one line and over 4 positions. We do this by pressing the followed by keys. This will highlight the "3" and it will be blinking. Notice that FLOAT is still highlighted because we have not asked for a change yet.

Figure 4 To request the change from Figure 3, we press the key. That will cause the screen to change to Figure 4. In Figure 4 the FLOAT is no longer highlighted. The "3" is highlighted and flashing. We can leave the MODE menu and return to our normal screen by pressing the key.

Figure 5 Back at the main screen, the old values were not changed. However, if we enter the problem again, and , then the result is displayed with 3 digits to the right of the decimal point. Be aware of the fact that the calculator does the full calculation and produces all of the digits that we saw before. The MODE setting merely affect the display of values.
The new setting will remain in effect until we change it again. Let us do that now.

Figure 6 We return to the MODE menu via the keys. The blinking cursor starts on the NORMAL setting. We merely need to move the highlight down on row by pressing the key.

Figure 7 Figure 7 captures the screen with the blinking cursor covering the word FLOAT on the second line. The "3" is still highlighted because we have moved the cursor, but we have yet to select a new choice.

Figure 8 Pressing the key selects FLOAT as the new value. This is the condition shown in Figure 8. Then, pressing the key will return us to the normal screen.

Figure 9 To demonstrate that we have returned to the full display of values, we can re-do the square root of 11 problem. However, this time we will press the keys to recall the last command, and then press to execute the command.

Figure 1	We start with a screen that has a simple problem, find the square root of 11. The keys needed for this are and . Note that the answer is given with the usual 12 digits.
Figure 2	Now we will enter the MODE menu by pressing the keys. Figure 2 shows the result. What does not appear in Figure 2 is the flashing of the highlight on the word NORMAL on the first line. That flashing indicates the location of the cursor or pointer. The highlighted values on each line are the current setting for the particular set of values. In particular, on the second line the word FLOAT is highlighted to indicate that the setting for the number of decimal places to display is given as FLOAT, meaning, show as many as are available (but not the hidden digits).
Figure 3	To move from Figure 2 to Figure 3 we will need to move down one line and over 4 positions. We do this by pressing the followed by keys. This will highlight the "3" and it will be blinking. Notice that FLOAT is still highlighted because we have not asked for a change yet.
Figure 4	To request the change from Figure 3, we press the key. That will cause the screen to change to Figure 4. In Figure 4 the FLOAT is no longer highlighted. The "3" is highlighted and flashing. We can leave the MODE menu and return to our normal screen by pressing the key.
Figure 5	Back at the main screen, the old values were not changed. However, if we enter the problem again, and , then the result is displayed with 3 digits to the right of the decimal point. Be aware of the fact that the calculator does the full calculation and produces all of the digits that we saw before. The MODE setting merely affect the display of values. The new setting will remain in effect until we change it again. Let us do that now.
Figure 6	We return to the MODE menu via the keys. The blinking cursor starts on the NORMAL setting. We merely need to move the highlight down on row by pressing the key.
Figure 7	Figure 7 captures the screen with the blinking cursor covering the word FLOAT on the second line. The "3" is still highlighted because we have moved the cursor, but we have yet to select a new choice.
Figure 8	Pressing the key selects FLOAT as the new value. This is the condition shown in Figure 8. Then, pressing the key will return us to the normal screen.
Figure 9	To demonstrate that we have returned to the full display of values, we can re-do the square root of 11 problem. However, this time we will press the keys to recall the last command, and then press to execute the command.