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Calculator Techniques for Solving Progression Problems

Algebra
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This is the first round for series of posts about optimizing the use of calculator in solving math problems. The calculator techniques I am presenting here has been known to many students who are about to take the engineering board exam. Using it will save you plenty of time and use that time in analyzing more complex problems. The following models of CASIO calculator may work with these methods: fx-570ES, fx-570ES Plus, fx-115ES, fx-115ES Plus, fx-991ES, and fx-991ES Plus. This post will focus on progression progression. To illustrate the use of calculator, we will have sample problems to solve. But before that, note the following calculator keys and the corresponding operation: Name Shift Key Operation Name (Sigma) Key Operation

S H I F T

S H I F Tl o g

Mode

M O D E

Solve

S H I F TC A L C

Alpha

A L P H A

Logical equals

A L P H AC A L C

Stat

S H I F T1 [ S T A T ]

Exponent

[ ] x

AC

A C

Problem: Arithmetic Progression The 6th term of an arithmetic progression is 12 and the 30th term is 180. 1. What is the common difference of the sequence? 2. Determine the first term? 3. Find the 52nd term. 4. If the nth term is 250, find n. 5. Calculate the sum of the first 60 terms. 6. Compute for the sum between 12th and 37th terms, inclusive. Traditional Solution For a little background about Arithmetic Progression, the traditional way of solving this problem is presented here. Click here to show or hide the solution

common difference

 first term

52nd term

40th term, a40 = 250 Sum of AP is given by the formula

Sum of the first 60 terms answer Sum between 12th and 37th terms, inclusive.

answer

Calculator Technique for Arithmetic Progression

Bring your calculator to Linear Regression in STAT mode: M O D E3 : S T A T2 : A + B Xand input the coordinates. X (for n) 6 30 To find the first term:
A C1S H I F T1 [ S T A T ]7 : R e g5 : y c a r e tand calculate 1 y c a r e t , be sure to place 1 in front of y-caret. 1 y c a r e t= -23

Among the many S T A Ttype, why A + B X ? The formula an = am + (n - m)d is linear in n. In calculator, we input n at X column and an at Y column. Thus our X is linear representing the variable n in the formula.

Y (for an) 12 180

answer for the first term

To find the 52nd term, and again A C5 2S H I F T1 [ S T A T ]7 : R e g5 : y c a r e tand make sure you place 52 in front of y-caret.
5 2 y c a r e t= 334

answer for the 52nd term

To find n for an = 250,

A C2 5 0S H I F T1 [ S T A T ]7 : R e g4 : x c a r e t 2 5 0 x c a r e t= 40

answer for n

To find the common difference, solve for any term adjacent to a given term, say 7th term because the 6th term is given then do 7 y c a r e t- 12 = 7 for d. For some fun, randomly subtract any two adjacent terms like 1 8 y c a r e t- 1 7 y c a r e t , etc. Try it! Sum of Arithmetic Progression by Calculator Bring the your calculator to Quadratic Regression in STAT mode
2 M O D E3 : S T A T3 : _ + c X

Note that for the given AP, a1 = -23, a2 = -16, and a3 = -9. Input three coordinates X 1 2 3 Y -23 -23-16 -23-16-9

Why MODE 3:STAT 3:_+cX2? The formula S = n[ 2a1 + (n - 1)d ] for sum of arithmetic progression is quadratic in n. In our calculator, we input n in the X column and the sum at the Y column.

Sum of the first 60 terms: (A C6 0S H I F T1 [ S T A T ]7 : R e g6 : y c a r e t ) 6 0 y c a r e t= 11010

Sum from 12th to 37th terms, use S H I F T1 [ S T A T ]7 : R e g6 : y c a r e ttwice 3 7 y c a r e t-1 1 y c a r e t= 3679 Another way to solve for the sum is to use the calculation. The concept is to add each term in the progression. Any term in the progression is given by an = a1 + (n - 1)d. In this problem, a1 = -23 and d = 7, thus, our equation for an is an = -23 + (n - 1)(7). Reset your calculator into general calculation mode: M O D E1 : C O M Pthen S H I F Tl o g . Sum of first 60 terms:
( 2 3+( A L P H AX-1 )7 )= 11010

Or you can do
( 2 3+7A L P H AX )= 11010 which yield the same result.

Sum from 12th to 37th terms

( 2 3+( A L P H AX-1 )7 )= 3679

Or you may do
( 2 3+7A L P H AX )= 3679

Calculator Technique for Geometric Progression

Problem Given the sequence 2, 6, 18, 54, ... 1. Find the 12th term 2. Find n if an = 9,565,938. 3. Find the sum of the first ten terms. Traditional Solution Click here to show or hide the solution

Solution by Calculator
M O D E3 : S T A T6 : A B ^ X

Why AB^X? The nth term formula an = a1rn 1 for geometric progression is exponential in form, the variable n in the formula is the X equivalent in the calculator.

X 1 2 3

Y 2 6 18

To solve for the 12th term

A C1 2S H I F T1 [ S T A T ]7 : R e g5 : y c a r e t 1 2 y c a r e t= 354294

answer

To solve for n,
A C9 5 6 5 9 3 8S H I F T1 [ S T A T ]7 : R e g4 : x c a r e t 9 5 6 5 9 3 8 x c a r e t= 15

answer

Sum of the first ten terms (M O D E1 : C O M Pthen S H I F Tl o g ) Each term which is given by an = a1rn 1.
A L P H AX-1 ( 2 ( 3 ) )= 59048

answer

Or you may do
A L P H AX ( 23 )= 59048

Calculator Technique for Harmonic Progression

Problem Find the 30th term of the sequence 6, 3, 2, ... Solution by Calculator
M O D E3 : S T A T8 : 1 / X

X 1 2 3

Y 6 3 2

A C3 0S H I F T1 [ S T A T ]7 : R e g5 : y c a r e t 3 0 y c a r e t= 0.2

answer

I hope you find this post helpful. With some practice, you will get familiar with your calculator and the methods we present here. I encourage you to do some practice, once you grasp it, you can easily solve basic problems in progression. If you have another way of using your calculator for solving progression problems, please share it to us. We will be happy to have variety of ways posted here. You can use the comment form below to do it.
Tags: scientific calculatorcalculator techniqueCASIO calculatorarithmetic progression by calculatorgeometric progression by calculatorharmonic progression by calculator

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