Ti 84 calculator

This page is two things at once: a working TI-84 Plus CE emulator, and the full reference manual for it.

Use the calculator above to run anything in this guide. Every keystroke sequence below follows TI-84 Plus CE menu structure.

If you have never touched a TI-84 before, start with our beginner walkthrough instead. This page is built for lookups: find your key, your menu, or your error message and get the fix.

Quick Start: Your First 60 Seconds- Tips

1.      The emulator loads already on. If the screen is blank, click ON (bottom-left).

2.      Press MODE. Check that RADIAN or DEGREE matches your homework — this single setting causes more wrong answers than any other.

3.      Press 2nd then MODE to QUIT back to the home screen.

4.      Press Y= and type an equation. Use the X,T,θ,n key for the variable x, not the ALPHA X.

5.      Press ZOOM then 6 for the standard −10 to 10 window.

6.      Press GRAPH.

If nothing appears, jump to the troubleshooting section below — the cause is almost always a leftover STAT PLOT.

TI-84 Keyboard Map: What Every Key Does

The TI-84 keypad splits into five zones. Learning the zones is faster than memorising 50 individual buttons.

•       Graphing row (top): Y=, WINDOW, ZOOM, TRACE, GRAPH

•       Editing block: 2nd, MODE, DEL, ALPHA, X,T,θ,n, STAT plus the arrow pad

•       Advanced function keys: MATH, APPS, PRGM, VARS, CLEAR

•       Scientific keys: x⁻¹, SIN, COS, TAN, ^, x², comma, parentheses, ÷, LOG, LN

•       Number pad and operators: 0 to 9, decimal point, (-), +, −, ×, STO→, ENTER

How 2nd and ALPHA Work

Every key on the TI-84 Plus CE has up to three jobs, printed in three positions.

Position	Colour	How to reach it
On the key face	White	Press the key
Above-left of the key	Blue	Press 2nd first
Above-right of the key	Green	Press ALPHA first

 

Press 2nd and the cursor turns into a blinking up-arrow. Press ALPHA and it turns into a blinking A. Press the same modifier twice to cancel it.

To type several letters in a row without pressing ALPHA each time, press 2nd then ALPHA. This is A-lock, printed in blue above the ALPHA key. Press ALPHA once to release it.

The 2nd Function Reference Table

These are the blue labels, in keypad order.

Press 2nd +	You get	What it does
Y=	STAT PLOT	Turn scatter plots, histograms and box plots on or off
WINDOW	TBLSET	Set the table start value and step size
ZOOM	FORMAT	Grid, axes, coordinates and label display
TRACE	CALC	zero, minimum, maximum, intersect, derivative, integral
GRAPH	TABLE	View the x/y table for everything in Y=
MODE	QUIT	Return to the home screen from any menu
DEL	INS	Switch from overwrite to insert while editing
X,T,θ,n	LINK	Send and receive data between calculators
STAT	LIST	List names, OPS and MATH operations on lists
MATH	TEST	Equality, inequality and logic operators
APPS	ANGLE	Degree symbol, radian symbol, DMS, polar conversions
PRGM	DRAW	Line, circle, tangent, shade, text on a graph
VARS	DISTR	Every probability distribution function
x⁻¹	MATRIX	Create, edit and operate on matrices
SIN / COS / TAN	Inverse trig	Arcsine, arccosine, arctangent
^	π	The constant pi
x²	Square root	Square root
comma	EE	Scientific notation exponent
( and )	Curly braces	List braces
÷	e	Euler's number
LOG	10ⁿ	Power of ten
LN	eⁿ	Natural exponential
× and −	Square brackets	Matrix brackets
STO→	RCL	Recall a stored variable
+	MEM	Memory management and reset
1 to 6	L1 to L6	The six default stat lists
7 / 8 / 9	u, v, w	Sequence variables
0	CATALOG	Alphabetical list of every command
decimal point	i	The imaginary unit
(-)	ANS	The previous answer
ENTER	ENTRY	Recall the previous entry
ON	OFF	Turn the calculator off

 

The X,T,θ,n Key

This one key produces a different variable depending on your graphing mode.

•       Func mode gives X

•       Par mode gives T

•       Pol mode gives θ

•       Seq mode gives n

Typing ALPHA then STO→ to get a green X is not the same thing. The graphing variable must come from the X,T,θ,n key or the function will not plot.

The MODE Screen: Every Setting Explained

Press MODE to open this screen. Highlighted options are the active ones. Move with the arrows and press ENTER to select.

Setting	Options	Change it when	If it is wrong
Display	MathPrint / Classic	You want fractions and exponents stacked like a textbook	Classic shows everything on one line
Decimal	Float / 0 to 9	You need a fixed number of decimal places	Float shows up to 10 digits
Angle	Radian / Degree	Trig homework specifies one or the other	sin(30) returns −0.988 in Radian and 0.5 in Degree
Graph type	Func / Par / Pol / Seq	You are graphing parametrics, polars or sequences	Y= shows the wrong variable prompt
Answers	Real / a+bi / re^θi	You need complex results from roots of negatives	Square root of −4 throws ERR: NONREAL ANS in Real mode

 

MathPrint vs Classic

MathPrint mode renders fractions, exponents, roots, logs, summations and integrals in textbook layout on the home screen. Classic mode uses linear text such as 1/2 and sqrt(9).

MathPrint also changes what CATALOG pastes. Selecting the absolute value command in MathPrint pastes a template with a placeholder box rather than the plain command.

Switch to Classic if you are following an older textbook whose screenshots do not match what you see.

Menu-by-Menu Reference

MATH Menu

Press MATH. Four tabs run across the top: MATH, NUM, CMPLX and PRB.

MATH tab — the commands you will use most:

•       Convert a decimal answer to a fraction, and back to a decimal

•       Cube and cube root

•       Any nth root

•       fMin and fMax — minimum and maximum of a function over an interval

•       nDeriv — numerical derivative

•       fnInt — numerical definite integral

•       Summation

•       logBASE — logarithm with any base

NUM tab covers absolute value, round, integer part, fractional part, min, max, lcm, gcd and remainder.

PRB tab covers rand, nPr, nCr, factorial, randInt, randNorm and randBin.

STAT Menu

Press STAT. Three tabs: EDIT, CALC and TESTS.

EDIT tab:

•       Edit — open the L1 to L6 spreadsheet

•       SortA and SortD — sort a list ascending or descending

•       ClrList — empty a list

•       SetUpEditor — restore missing L1 to L6 columns

CALC tab — the statistics and regressions:

•       1-Var Stats — mean, median, standard deviation, quartiles

•       2-Var Stats — the same for paired data

•       LinReg — linear regression

•       QuadReg, CubicReg and QuartReg — polynomial fits

•       LnReg, ExpReg and PwrReg — logarithmic, exponential and power fits

TESTS tab covers Z-Test, T-Test, 2-SampTTest, chi-squared test, ANOVA and the confidence intervals.

2nd then TRACE: The CALC Menu

Press 2nd then TRACE while a graph is on screen.

Item	Finds
value	y at a specific x
zero	An x-intercept
minimum	A local minimum
maximum	A local maximum
intersect	Where two curves cross
dy/dx	The derivative at a point
The integral	The definite integral between two bounds

 

zero, minimum, maximum and intersect all ask you for a Left Bound, a Right Bound and a Guess. Move the cursor to the left of the feature and press ENTER, move to the right of it and press ENTER, then press ENTER once more.

MATRIX Menu

Press 2nd then x⁻¹. Three tabs: NAMES, MATH and EDIT.

•       EDIT — choose matrix A, set the row and column dimensions, then type the entries

•       NAMES — paste a matrix name into a calculation

•       MATH — determinant, transpose, dimension, identity, augment, ref and rref

rref is the one that solves systems of equations in a single step.

2nd then VARS: Probability Distributions

•       normalcdf — area under a normal curve between two bounds

•       invNorm — the z-score for a given area

•       binompdf — probability of exactly x successes

•       binomcdf — probability of x or fewer successes

•       tpdf and tcdf — t-distribution

•       chi-squared pdf and cdf — chi-squared distribution

VARS and CATALOG

VARS pastes stored objects into an expression  Y-variables, window settings, statistics results and table settings. Use VARS, then Y-VARS, then Function to reference Y1 inside another equation.

Pressing 2nd then 0 opens the CATALOG: every command the calculator has, in alphabetical order. Type a letter to jump to that section, then press ENTER to paste the highlighted command onto the current screen.

CATALOG is how you reach commands that live in no menu, such as Diagnostic On, which makes regressions display r and r-squared.

Step-by-Step Examples with Exact Keystrokes

Graph a Quadratic and Find Its Vertex

Using y = x² − 4x + 1:

1.      Press Y=

2.      Enter the function using the X,T,θ,n key for x

3.      Press ZOOM then 6

4.      Press 2nd then TRACE, choose minimum

5.      Move the cursor left of the vertex, press ENTER

6.      Move right of the vertex, press ENTER

7.      Press ENTER

Result: X = 2, Y = −3.

Find Where Two Functions Intersect

1.      Press Y= and enter the first function in Y1 and the second in Y2

2.      Press ZOOM then 6

3.      Press 2nd then TRACE, choose intersect

4.      Press ENTER to accept the first curve

5.      Press ENTER to accept the second curve

6.      Move near the crossing point and press ENTER

The calculator only finds one intersection at a time. Repeat with a different guess for each additional crossing.

Solve an Equation Numerically

For 2x³ − 5x + 1 = 0:

1.      Press MATH, scroll to the bottom and select the numeric solver

2.      Enter the expression on the left of the equals sign and leave 0 on the right

3.      Move to the X= line and type a starting guess

4.      Press ALPHA then ENTER for SOLVE

Run a Linear Regression

1.      Press STAT then choose Edit

2.      Type your x-values into L1 and your y-values into L2

3.      Press STAT, arrow right to CALC, choose LinReg

4.      Press ENTER through the prompts

To display the correlation coefficient r, first run Diagnostic On from the CATALOG.

Build a Table

1.      Press Y= and enter your function

2.      Press 2nd then WINDOW for TBLSET

3.      Set TblStart to your first x-value

4.      Set the table step to your increment

5.      Press 2nd then GRAPH for TABLE

Set Indpnt to Ask if you want to type your own x-values instead of stepping automatically.

Multiply Matrices and Find an Inverse

1.      Press 2nd then x⁻¹, arrow to EDIT, select matrix A, enter dimensions and values

2.      Repeat for matrix B

3.      Press 2nd then MODE to quit

4.      Paste matrix A, press ×, paste matrix B, press ENTER

For the inverse, paste the matrix and press the x⁻¹ key, then ENTER.

Matrix multiplication is not commutative and the dimensions must line up. Texas Instruments uses this example in its own support documentation: a 3×3 matrix B can be multiplied by a 3×2 matrix A, but A cannot be multiplied by B, because A's column count of 2 does not equal B's row count of 3.

Derivatives and Integrals

•       Derivative of x³ at x = 2 using nDeriv returns 12

•       Integral of x² from 0 to 3 using fnInt returns 9

Both are numerical, not symbolic. The TI-84 will not hand you an algebraic answer.

nCr, nPr and Factorials

1.      Type the first number, for example 10

2.      Press MATH and arrow across to PRB

3.      Choose nCr, nPr or the factorial symbol

4.      Type the second number, for example 4

5.      Press ENTER

10 nCr 4 returns 210.

The logBASE Shortcut

To evaluate log base 3 of 5, you do not need the change-of-base formula:

1.      Press MATH

2.      Press ALPHA then MATH to jump to logBASE

3.      Type 3 in the base box, arrow right, type 5

4.      Press ENTER

This enters the log exactly as it appears in your textbook, which removes one of the most common transcription mistakes on timed tests.

TI-84 Error Messages: Meaning and Fix

When the TI-84 Plus CE detects a problem it displays the error type as a menu title, always prefixed with ERR. Choosing Goto moves the cursor to the exact spot that caused it — use it before anything else.

Error	Why it happened	Fix
ERR: SYNTAX	The expression cannot be parsed — usually a missing parenthesis, two operators in a row, or the subtraction key used where the negative key belongs	Choose Goto, then correct the highlighted character
ERR: DOMAIN	An argument is outside the allowed range, such as the log of a negative number	Check the input range for that function
ERR: INVALID DIM	A list or matrix dimension is wrong, or a STAT PLOT references lists of unequal length	Press 2nd, Y=, choose PlotsOff, press ENTER, then graph again
ERR: DIM MISMATCH	Two lists or matrices of different sizes were combined	Match the dimensions, or check L1 and L2 have equal counts
ERR: WINDOW RANGE	Xmin is greater than or equal to Xmax, or Ymin greater than or equal to Ymax	Press ZOOM then 6 to reset to the standard window
ERR: NO SIGN CHANGE	zero or intersect found no root inside your bounds	Widen the WINDOW so the feature is visible, then retry
ERR: BOUND	Your guess sits outside the range you specified, or the function is undefined near it	Re-enter bounds that clearly straddle the answer
ERR: DIVIDE BY 0	A denominator evaluated to zero	Check for a variable that is still storing 0
ERR: NONREAL ANS	A real-mode calculation produced a complex result	Press MODE and set answers to a+bi
ERR: DATA TYPE	The wrong type was supplied, such as a decimal where an integer is required	Check the argument types for that command
ERR: ARCHIVED	You tried to use, edit or delete an archived variable	Run UnArchive on the variable first; for lists, SetUpEditor is the safer option
ERR: MEMORY	Not enough free memory for the operation	Open the MEM menu, choose Mem Management, and delete unused programs or lists
ERR: SINGULAR MAT	You tried to invert a matrix with no inverse	Check the determinant — a determinant of 0 means no inverse exists

 

When Nothing Above Works

The Texas Instruments support procedure for a persistent INVALID DIM or DIM MISMATCH is a full RAM reset:

1.      Press 2nd then plus for MEM

2.      Choose Reset

3.      Choose All RAM

This erases every program, list, note and stored function. Try PlotsOff and clearing Y= first.

The full list of error types, causes and corrections is published in the official TI-84 Plus CE error message guide.

Troubleshooting

The Graph Screen Is Blank

Work down this list in order:

1.      Is anything actually entered in Y=?

2.      Is the equals sign next to Y1 highlighted? If not, arrow onto it and press ENTER to turn the function on.

3.      Press ZOOM then 6 — your window may be showing a region where the function does not exist.

4.      Press 2nd, Y=, choose PlotsOff, press ENTER.

5.      Press 2nd then ZOOM for FORMAT and check AxesOn is selected.

The Screen Is Frozen

On a physical TI-84, pull a battery. On this emulator, refresh the browser tab — it reloads instantly with default settings.

Reset Options Compared

Reset	Erases
Clear Entries	Home screen history only
ClrAllLists	L1 to L6 contents
Defaults	MODE and format settings, not your data
All RAM	Everything in RAM: programs, lists, variables

 

Start at the top of that table and work down. Most problems are solved before you reach All RAM.

Adjusting Contrast

Press 2nd then the up arrow to darken, 2nd then the down arrow to lighten. The number in the top-right corner runs from 0 to 9.

TI-84 Plus vs Plus CE vs CE Python

The TI-84 Plus series launched in 2004 as the successor to the TI-83 Plus, built on a Zilog Z80 processor running at 6 MHz.

Model	Screen	User RAM	ROM	Power	Notable
TI-84 Plus	Monochrome	24 KB	480 KB	4 x AAA	The original 2004 model
TI-84 Plus Silver Edition	Monochrome	24 KB	1.5 MB	4 x AAA	Interchangeable faceplates; discontinued 2015
TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition	Colour	21 KB	3.5 MB	Rechargeable	Released 2013, the first Z80-based TI graphing calculator with a colour screen
TI-84 Plus CE	Colour	—	—	Rechargeable	Successor to the Plus series; slimmer, MathPrint standard
TI-84 Plus CE Python	Colour	—	—	Rechargeable	Adds a Python interpreter

 

The emulator on this page reproduces the TI-84 Plus CE. Keystrokes for the monochrome TI-84 Plus are nearly identical, but colour-specific features such as coloured graph lines and background images are not available on those models.

If you need a simpler scientific calculator rather than a graphing one, use our TI-30XS calculator instead.

Exam Rules: SAT, ACT and AP

The physical TI-84 Plus and TI-84 Plus CE are on the approved calculator lists for the SAT, ACT and AP exams.

This online emulator is not. No web-based, phone-based or computer-based calculator is permitted in a proctored testing room, and that includes every online TI-84 on the internet, this one included.

What the online version is genuinely useful for:

•       Learning menu navigation before test day, so you are not hunting for the CALC menu under time pressure

•       Homework and problem sets

•       Checking answers when your physical calculator is at school

•       Teachers demonstrating on a projector

Calculator policies change. Confirm the current list on the official College Board and ACT websites before your test date.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ERR: SYNTAX mean on a TI-84?

It means the calculator cannot read your expression. The usual causes are a missing closing parenthesis, two operation symbols typed back to back, or the subtraction key used where the negative key belongs. Select Goto and the cursor lands on the exact character at fault.

How do I reset my TI-84 without losing my programs?

Open the MEM menu with 2nd then plus, choose Reset, then choose Defaults. This restores MODE and format settings while leaving programs, lists and variables intact. Only All RAM erases your data.

What is the difference between MathPrint and Classic mode?

MathPrint displays fractions, exponents, roots and integrals in stacked textbook layout. Classic displays everything in a single line of linear text. Switch in the MODE menu — the maths is identical, only the display changes.

Why is my TI-84 graph not showing?

In most cases a STAT PLOT is switched on and referencing lists that no longer match. Press 2nd then Y=, choose PlotsOff, press ENTER, then press GRAPH again. If it still fails, press ZOOM then 6 to reset the window.

How do I switch between Degree and Radian mode?

Press MODE, arrow down to the Angle row, highlight either RADIAN or DEGREE, and press ENTER. Then press 2nd then MODE to quit. Trig results change completely between the two, so check this before any trig assignment.

For plotting and analysing functions on a larger canvas, try our online graphing calculator, or return to the TI-84 calculator online homepage.