| Steps |
Key Sequence |
Screens |
| 1. Input Function or Piecewise-Defined Function. |
Press DIAMOND key, then F1 key (for Y=) |
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Type the function |
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| Method 1: Using home screen. This method finds the largest local minimum (not
necessarily a global minimum!). |
| 2. Go to Home screen |
Press 2nd, then ESC |
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| 3. Select fMin function |
Press F3 |
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Press 6 (for fMin() |
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| 4. Type in Function |
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| Note: You can either type in the function directly
(e.g., 5 – 2x2 + x3) OR, if you followed
step 1 above, use y1(x) |
| 4. Type in Independent Variable |
Press comma key, then x, then right parenthesis |
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| Note: This will find the minimum of the function on the whole
domain of the function. If this is the value for which you are looking, then goto Step 8.
If you want to limit the domain of the function to a specific closed interval then goto the next step. |
| 5. Type in First Restriction (i.e., left endpoint) |
Press | key |
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Type X key |
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Press 2nd, then 5 (for MATH menu) |
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Press 8 (for Test submenu) |
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Press 3 (for >=) |
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Type in value for endpoint |
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| 6. Type in and function |
Press CATALOG key |
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| Note: You will need to scroll using up or down arrow keys to find 'and'.
To quickly move to the 'a' functions, press = key. |
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ENTER (to select 'and') |
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| 7. Type in Second Restriction (i.e., right endpoint) |
Type X key |
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Press 2nd, then 5 (for MATH menu) |
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Press 8 (for Test submenu) |
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Press 4 (for <=) |
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Type in value for endpoint |
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| 8. Solve |
ENTER |
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| Note: If this returns an equation, then press DIAMOND key, then ENTER! |
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| Method 2: Using grapher. |
| Follow Step 1 above |
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Type the function |
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| 2. Graph |
Press DIAMOND key, then F3 key |
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| 3. Find Minimum Point |
Press F5 |
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Press 3 (for Minimum) |
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Type in x-value for a point to the left of a suspected local minimum point or trace function until you reach the value for x |
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| Note: The minimum point will be the smallest y-value in the interval
between the lower bound and upper bound. |
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Press ENTER |
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Type in x-value for a point to the right of a suspected local minimum point or trace function until you reach the value for x |
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Press ENTER |
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| Note: In this case, the minimum of the function on [0, 3] is 3.81481 and occurs at x = 1.33333. |