Calc Info

There are many things the TI-86 can do that the TI-83 Plus cannot:

• TI-83 Plus: All caps + theta. TI-86: Lower case and upper case, symbols and International characters + Greek.

• TI-83 Plus: Equation solver has the add-on "0=", which needs to be gone, but cannot. TI-86: Easy-to-use equation solver.

• TI-83 Plus: Has a "i" for Complex Rectangular number systems. (in the form of a+bi and reᶿⁱ) TI-86: Has a "∠" sign for Complex Polar number systems. (in the form of (a,b) and (r∠θ)

• TI-83 Plus: Needs the Scientific Tools app from Texas Instruments to use Vectors. TI-86: Can do vectors without problems.

• TI-83 Plus: Each letter is a variable, only having 28 variables, including theta and n. TI-86: With a lot of possibilities, you can have up to 257,575,523,205 8-letter variables.

• TI-83 Plus: Have to go to the Catalog to get hyperbolic functions. TI-86: Has a menu with easy access to hyperbolic functions.

• TI-83 Plus: Doesn't have Interpolates. TI-86: Has Interpolates.

• TI-83 Plus: Calculus in the Math > Math menu. TI-86: Calculus in a separate Calc menu.

• TI-83 Plus: Needs the Scientific Tools app from Texas Instruments to use constants. TI-86: The constants are built into the calculator, plus you can make your own.

• TI-83 Plus: Needs the Scientific Tools app from Texas Instruments to use conversions. TI-86: Conversions come preloaded into the calculator, plus they don't always show the annoying scientific notation form.

• TI-83 Plus: 5-letter statistical lists. TI-86: 8-letter statistical lists.

• TI-83 Plus: Doesn't have Base numbers. TI-86: Has Base numbers.

• TI-83 Plus: Needs an app for simultaneous equations and polynomials. TI-86: Already has simultaneous equations and polynomials..

• TI-83 Plus: 10 functions. TI-86: 99 functions.

• Et cetera.

This is similar to its cousin, the TI-85. Sadly, both the TI-85 and TI-86 are discontinued, but you can buy a used one, or use an emulator to use one. I use Virtual TI. It's a bit old, but still workable on Windows 10.

Here is a program called KeyCodes, where it helps you use the "getKy" command:

Lbl TOP

getKy→Key

While Key=0

getKy→Key

Disp Key

Goto TOP

When you press a key, you will get the key code to help you use the getKy command. For example, F1 yields "11" and Graph yields "41". To exit, press On.