SAT - Math Page 1 of 5

p0025.n05 Mr. Bujak

Complete SAT Guide 2010, 13th edition

Gary R. Gruber, Ph.D., p25, #5
Edward Bujak
If x  y  7 and x y  4 , then find the value of x 2  y 2

Using the TI-84 family of graphing calculators.

Y1  7  x
4
Y2 
x

Native TI-84 functionality:

Let’s examine the intersections (both in Quadrant I):

For the top-left intersection:

Move cross-hair Move cross-hair

SAT - Math Page 2 of 5
p0025.n05 Mr. Bujak

Move cross-hair

For the bottom-right intersection:

Move cross-hair Move cross-hair

SAT - Math Page 3 of 5
p0025.n05 Mr. Bujak

Notice that the (x,y) values of the first intersection are swapped from the (x,y) values of the second
intersection.
 x 2  y 2    x 2  y 2 
intersection 1 intersection 2
SAT - Math Page 4 of 5
p0025.n05 Mr. Bujak

TI-84 App (PlySmlt2):

The PlySmlt2 TI-84 App (or the previous version PolySmlt) finds all roots (complex and real) to a
polynomial up to the 10th degree and also solves simultaneous equations (also called system of
equations).

Setting Y1 = Y2 and solving (many other ways to get this), yields:

x2  7 x  4  0

or

Select ORDER 2, FRACtional Enter the coefficients of the

representation polynomial

[NEXT] [SOLVE] [STO]

[MAIN]
SAT - Math Page 5 of 5
p0025.n05 Mr. Bujak

or

to quit PlySmlt2