TI-Nspire

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TI-Nspire
Basic data
developer	Texas Instruments
Publishing year	2007
Current  version	3.9 (4.5 for CX models) (3.9: June 2014; 4.5: September 2017)
operating system	Microsoft Windows , Mac OS X , Android
category	Computer algebra system , statistics software , graphical user interface
License	proprietary software
German speaking	Yes
education.ti.com/deutschland

TI-Nspire Series / TI-Nspire Family
TI-Nspire CX CAS
Manufacturer	Texas Instruments
Sales start	2007-2011
Technical specifications
processor	CX CAS: ARM926EJ-S , 132 MHz
random access memory	16 MiB - 64 MiB
screen	All models: 320 × 240 pixels CX, CX CAS: 16 bit color LCD
Connectivity
connections	CX CAS: mini USB
battery pack
Type	CX CAS: Li Ion , 1060 mAh
measures and weight
Weight	242 g - 280 g
particularities
CAS models: computer algebra system
Website
education.ti.com

The TI-Nspire CAS with ClickPad

TI-Nspire is the name of a family of products launched by Texas Instruments in July 2007 . The product family includes various hardware, software elements and extensions. A key conceptual feature is the combination of computer algebra (CAS), dynamic geometry (DGS) and spreadsheet (TK) in an integrated system, in accordance with the didactic discussion regarding multiple representations.

The current version number is 4.5.1 (TI-Nspire CX / TI-Nspire CX CAS, as of 2018)

The current version number is 5.1.3 (TI-Nspire CX II-T / TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS, as of 2020)

Hardware versions

• TI-Nspire and TI-Nspire CAS with ClickPad (original version, no longer available). A TI-84 Plus could be emulated by exchanging the interchangeable keyboard of the hardware variant "TI-Nspire with ClickPad" .
• TI-Nspire and TI-Nspire CAS with touchpad (available since 2010)
• TI-Nspire CX and TI-Nspire CX CAS with color display (available since mid-2011)
• TI-Nspire CX II-T and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS with color display (available since 2019)

Software versions

• TI-Nspire and TI-Nspire CAS student software for Windows and Mac OS X
• TI-Nspire and TI-Nspire CAS teacher software for Windows and Mac OS X
• TI-Nspire and TI-Nspire CAS Student Software for Windows and Mac OS X (Compatible with TI-Nspire CX II-T from version 5)
• TI-Nspire and TI-Nspire CAS Premium teacher software for Windows and Mac OS X (Compatible with TI-Nspire CX II-T from version 5)
• TI-Nspire Document Player: Allows the interactive use of TI-Nspire files even without having a full version; is integrated into HTML pages using iFrame .
• TI-Nspire app for iPad
• TI-Nspire CAS app for iPad

Extensions

• TI Navigator for setting up a wireless educational network
• Docking station for charging the TI-Nspire handhelds, data transfer and updating the operating system
• Lab station for multi-sensor data acquisition in science lessons

particularities

Applications

The main innovation compared to other comparable products is the combination of the basic mathematical software types computer algebra, dynamic geometry and spreadsheets in one integrated system. With the TI-Nspire, these sub-areas are called applications. From version 1.3, TI-Nspire includes the applications Calculator, Graphs & Geometry, Lists & Spreadsheet, Data & Statistics and Notes. Versions from 3.0 of the operating system supplement a comfortable measurement value acquisition and evaluation environment called DataQuest.

Variable handling

The term “integrated system” mentioned above is to be understood in such a way that changes to a variable in one application have an immediate effect on calculations, graphs, tables, etc., which depend on this variable, in another application. Example: A cell entry in the Lists & Spreadsheet is saved as variable a , but at the same time a is a parameter of the function f ( x ) = a · x ², then the function graph is redrawn immediately when the cell entry is changed. In other comparable products, the various applications are often only linked to a limited extent.

keyboard

The TI-Nspire with clickpad, cover and the two keyboards

In contrast to other graphical calculators , the handhelds of the TI-Nspire family have their own keys for entering letters. With this, the input of texts in retrospect on, for example, the TI-89 has been significantly simplified. In the TI-Nspire version with ClickPad , the letter keys were raised between the number and function keys. This keyboard layout has been abandoned. In the current models of the TI-Nspire CX series, number and letter keys are arranged in different areas.

Programmability

Like the graphical pocket calculators from Texas Instruments, TI-Nspire has a programming environment ( Basic-like dialect ; programs are stored in libraries). From version 3.2 the scripting language Lua is supported.

Data acquisition

Sensors for measured value acquisition can be connected via the mini USB interface, and several sensors can be connected at once via the Lab Station extension .

More functions

The TI-Nspire also supports PrettyPrint , i.e. the two-dimensional display of mathematical expressions.

Technical data and connectivity

Both computers have a large, high-resolution display of 320 × 240 pixels, for comparison: the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition has a resolution of 96 × 64 pixels, a TI-89 a resolution of 160 × 100 pixels. The computer has a NAND flash memory of, compared to other computers, a large 32 MB and an SDRAM with 32 MB memory, which contains a copy of all active documents and a copy of the operating system. The third memory is a NOR flash with 512 kB, which contains boot instructions for loading the operating system ( Nucleus ). In contrast to other graphics computers, the TI-Nspire does not contain a backup battery, which is why the computer "forgets" all data stored in the SDRAM when a battery is removed, so that when the battery is reinserted, the entire operating system from the NAND flash and all documents in the SDRAM need to be loaded, which takes about two minutes. The purpose of this procedure is the technical properties of NAND flash and SDRAM main memory: NAND flash does not need a permanent supply of electricity, but is relatively slow; SDRAM requires a basic voltage, without which it can delete the entire content, but is very fast, which is very useful for fluent work with documents and the operating system. Both models also have a USB interface with which two pocket calculators or a pocket calculator and a PC can be connected.

Software error

Regardless of the setting (approximate / exact), the TI-NSpire (software version 4.5) delivers incorrect results for some entries. Examples are given below. The same errors sometimes also exist in the predecessors TI-89 , TI-92 Plus and Voyage 200 .

1. ${\displaystyle \arctan(0/0)={\frac {\sin(\infty )\cdot \pi }{2}}\,}$ (correct would be: undef)
2. ${\displaystyle \int \left(1/x,x,0,\infty \right)}$returns 66.132515757964 with calculation mode "approximated" (correct: but "dubious accuracy" is noted) ${\displaystyle \infty }$
3. ${\displaystyle \int {\frac {\mathrm {d} }{\mathrm {d} x}}\left(x\cdot e^{x^{2}}\right)\,\mathrm {d} x}$provides (simplified / calculated ) ${\displaystyle 2\cdot \int \left(x^{2}\cdot e^{x^{2}}\right)\,\mathrm {d} x+\int e^{x^{2}}\,\mathrm {d} x}$ ${\displaystyle x\cdot e^{x^{2}}}$
4. ${\displaystyle \mathrm {sign} (0)=\pm 1}$(correct: 0 (by definition, see signum function ))
5. ${\displaystyle \int (x^{n},x,c)={\frac {x^{n+1}}{n+1}}+c}$(Missing warning that it is incorrect for) ${\displaystyle n=-1}$

Error 2 can be avoided by setting the calculation mode to Exact, which is only possible in the CAS models.

Software error when working with functions with additional parameters

In software version 3.2.3, when working with parametrically defined functions, an error occurs when working with their derivatives: If the function value of the output function at the point dependent on a results in zero or another variable-free term, the value of the Derivation given with zero or the variable-free term. However, the error can be avoided by passing the variable as a list to the calculator. This error still occurs in software version 4.5.

Web links

Commons : TI-Nspire  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Official TI-Nspire site (Germany)
• Official TI-Nspire site (US and Canada, English)
• Official website of TI
• Datamath side of the calculator museum (English)
• A series of training videos
• A German-language tutorial for the TI-Nspire (CX) CAS (Jan Sondermann has minimized his website, no content is available)
• See "Introduction TI-Nspire CAS_CX" from Salza-Gymnasium

Individual evidence

1. ↑ http://education.ti.com/en/us/software/search
2. ↑ ^{a b c} en: TI-Nspire series
3. ↑ Markus Vogel , Multimedia support for reading function graphs ( Memento from December 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 549 kB). mathematica didactica 30 (2007) 1.
4. ↑ Information at education.ti.com , accessed on September 13, 2012
5. ↑ Vernier homepage . Retrieved March 15, 2013.
6. ^ Calculator course at Münster University of Applied Sciences. Münster University of Applied Sciences, Department of Civil Engineering, accessed on December 6, 2013 (pocket calculator course, V. Gensichen, R. Runge, TI - Voyage 200).