The TI-84 -- always something new to learn

At the Ten County Math conference last week, I learned how to input piecewise functions into the TI-84 in a precalculus session.

This week, worked with 2 students taking the first derivative of sqrt x -- this requires a leap of faith that delta x (or h) really does go to zero. The calculus is so algebra-dependent -- expressing sqrt x as x to the one-half is necessary to differentiate it. Interpreting the power of the derivative of sqrt x (which has x to the -ve 1/2 in it) again requires that algebra skill!!

TI is introducing a new product called N-Spire which I will get to see next month at the ATMNYC's minconference.