- Current section: Introduction
- Learning outcomes
- 1 Exploring your calculator
- 2 Using your calculator for basic arithmetic
- 3 Some calculator puzzles
- 4 Squares and other powers
- 5 Everyday calculations
- 6 Large and small numbers
- 7 Mathematical functions
- 8 Why a calculator?
- 9 When to use the calculator
- 10 Conclusion
- Acknowledgements
from The Open University
Alternatively you can skip the navigation by pressing 'Enter'.
Get Started menu item
What's On menu item
TV
-
Wednesday 22nd May
- 9:00pm, BBC Two, Bankers - Episode 3
- 9:00pm, BBC Two, Bankers
- 11:05pm, BBC One (North East and Cumbria Only, 955 on Sky), Living with Poverty - The Queen of North Shields
- 11:05pm, BBC One (Yorks and Lincs only, 957 on Sky), Living with Poverty - Peas and pay packets
- 11:05pm, BBC One London, East, North East & Cumbria and Yorkshire & Lincolnshire, Living with Poverty
- 11:05pm, BBC One (London only, 954 on Sky), Living with Poverty - Mind the gap
- 11:05pm, BBC One (Cambridgeshire, East only, 962 on Sky), Living with Poverty - Country kids
- Thursday 23rd May
Radio
- Wednesday 22nd May
- Friday 24th May
- Sunday 26th May
-
Wednesday 22nd May
Tapping into mathematics
Do you have a graphics or scientific calculator? If so, this unit...
Do you have a graphics or scientific calculator? If so, this unit will help you to understand the different functions and facilities available. With a focus on arithmetic, you will learn what a powerful tool this type of calculator can be.
By the end of this unit you should have:
- started to become familiar with your scientific or graphics calculator and its use in investigating everyday problems;
- developed good practice in relation to calculator use;
- be able to use your calculator for the following:
- arithmetic involving the operations of +, −, ×, ÷ and the use of brackets;
- squaring and square rooting numbers;
- reciprocals and powers of numbers;
- calculations involving percentages, large and small numbers, scientific notation and ;
- be able to understand the concepts of a mathematical function and its inverse (doing and undoing), rounding answers appropriately, fixing the number of decimal places displayed by a calculator, storing numbers in a calculator memory.
- Duration: 5 hours
- Published on: Monday 11th April 2011
- Level: Introductory
- Posted under: Mathematics Education
Contents
Tapping into mathematics
Introduction

This module is designed for students who have a graphics or scientific calculator. It gives some examples from the TI-84. So if you have a different calculator, some things may be a little different and you may need to consult your instruction booklet. There is a lot to learn about any calculator and it may take you some time to get to know how to use its many facilities. This module focuses on using it to do arithmetic. Even in this limited role, you will find it a powerful tool with many advantages. Depending upon your previous experience using a calculator, this module may take you more or less time than others.
If you intend to register for the Open University's MU120 course you will need to purchase the TI-84 calculator, however, you will still be able to complete this unit by using any other graphic or scientific calculator.
This unit is an adapted extract from the Open University course Using mathematics (MST121) [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]
Other pages You might like

Try: English: Personal Experiences
How has the English language influenced your life? How would you define your relationship...

Try: Working mathematically
This unit is aimed at teachers who wish to review how they go about the practice of...

Study: Graduate Diploma in Mathematics...
If you’re teaching maths, but without a specialist background, this diploma will help...

Try: Introduction to accelerated learning
We know that the brain has a hugely important role to play in the students' learning that...

Try: Squares, roots and powers
From paving your patio to measuring the ingredients for your latest recipe, squares,...

Try: Using film music in the classroom
There are many approaches to using film music in the classroom, including: a focus on...

Try: Modelling with first order differential...
This unit lays the foundation of Newtonian mechanics and in particular the procedure for...

Try: Using visualisation in maths teaching
This unit looks at visualisation as it relates to mathematics, focusing upon how it can...

Try: A global dimension to science education...
Is your science teaching very ‘Western-oriented’? This unit is aimed at those...

Try: Modelling static problems
This unit lays the foundation of the subject of mechanics. Mechanics is concerned with...

Try: Key skill assessment: Improving your...
Learning new skills is what makes us human – but can we improve how we go about...

Try: Teaching languages: Language awareness
This unit explores phonic and historical connections between languages and suggests how...
Comments
Be the first to post a comment
Copyright & revisions
Copyright information
- Creative-Commons: The Open University is proud to release this free course under a Creative Commons licence. However, any third-party materials featured within it are used with permission and are not ours to give away. These materials are not subject to the Creative Commons licence. See terms and conditions. Full details can be found in the Acknowledgements section.
Feeds
If you enjoyed this, why not follow a feed to find out when we have new things like it? Choose an RSS feed from the list below. (Don't know what to do with RSS feeds?)
Remember, you can also make your own, personal feed by combining tags from around OpenLearn.
Alternative Formats
Tags, Ratings and Social Bookmarking
Have you tried our free courses?
Free stuff to your door
Living with Poverty
OU TV & Radio
-
Secrets Of Our Living Planet: Magical ForestEden
Thursday 11:00 -
Secrets Of Our Living Planet: Magical ForestEden
Thursday 15:00 -
Secrets Of Our Living Planet: Magical ForestEden
Thursday 20:00 -
Secrets Of Our Living Planet: Magical ForestEden
Friday 0:01 -
Timewatch: Last Day of WW1BBC Four
Friday 0:05
Views
Votes
Comments
Tags
- climate change (373)
- business (277)
- diaries (194)
- bottom line (169)
- food (168)
- Rough Science (162)
- internet (145)
- BBC Two (145)
- BBC Radio 4 (140)
- BBC (133)
- Scotland (121)
- points for debate (120)
- listings (120)
- Creative Climate (116)
- children (116)
- Bang goes the Theory (116)
- English Civil War (115)
- astronomy (108)
- Thinking Allowed (105)
- religion (98)
- marketing (94)
- 20th century (94)
- Charles I (93)
- communication (92)
- evolution (91)
- sustainability (89)
- research (88)
- architecture (85)
- energy (83)
- National Health Service (NHS) (78)
OpenLearn Links
Copyrighted imageCredit: Background image Lucian Milasan | Dreamstime.com 

