Press apps. You'll see a list like Finance, PolySmlt2, Inequalz, Conics, Periodic, CtlgHelp, CabriJr, and depending on firmware, a handful more. Every one of these shipped with your calculator for free. Here are the four that save the most time.
Finance (built-in TVM solver)
Launch Finance → 1:TVM Solver…. You get a form with N, I%, PV, PMT, FV, P/Y, C/Y, PMT:.
These are the Time Value of Money variables. Fill in every one you know, cursor to the unknown, and press alpha + enter (SOLVE).
Use cases:
- Loan payoff amount: N = months, I% = annual rate (e.g. 6.5, not 0.065), PV = loan balance, PMT = payment, FV = 0, solve PMT or N.
- Future value of savings: PV = initial deposit, PMT = monthly contribution (as negative, since it's an outflow), I% = rate, N = months, solve FV.
- Required rate of return: PV, FV, N known, solve I%.
Sign convention matters: cash you put in is negative, cash you receive is positive. Most mistakes are sign errors.
PolySmlt2 (polynomial equation solver)
Launch PolySmlt2 → 1:Poly Root Finder. Enter the degree (2–10) and the coefficients. Press SOLVE. Every real and complex root comes back.
Use cases:
- Finding roots of a cubic or quartic on a math test.
- Checking by hand computed roots against the calculator's symbolic ones.
- Systems of linear equations:
PolySmlt2→2:Simultaneous Eqn Solvertakes ann×(n+1)augmented matrix and returns the solution.
Inequalz (inequality grapher)
Normally Y= only takes equations y = f(x). Inequalz lets you enter y < f(x), y > f(x), y ≤ f(x), y ≥ f(x).
Launch Inequalz. The Y= screen now has =, <, >, ≤, ≥ options. Pick one, enter the function, press graph. Shaded regions show the solution set. Intersections of multiple inequalities shade only where all conditions are satisfied — perfect for linear-programming problems.
Bonus: alpha + f1 on the graph screen activates Shades, which shades just the intersection region. alpha + f3 pinpoints intersection vertices.
Conics (section plotter)
Launch Conics. Pick circle, ellipse, hyperbola, or parabola. Enter the standard-form coefficients and hit graph. The calculator plots the conic with correct aspect ratio (unlike the default graph mode) and labels foci, directrix, vertices.
Useful when you're given a conic equation in general form and asked to identify the type — Conics handles the rearrangement internally.
How to launch any APP faster
On the home screen, type the app's first few letters using alpha. Pressing apps then the first letter jumps directly to the matching app.
Gotcha
Some APPS (like Cabri Jr, a dynamic geometry tool) chew up enough RAM that they force a memory reset when they exit. If you have important program data, back it up via TI Connect CE before launching an unfamiliar app.