TI-92 Help -- Solving Equations

The TI-92 can solve some equations algebraically -- for example, it uses the quadratic formula to find solutions of quadratic equations. Many equations, however, cannot be solved algebraically. The TI-92 is also able to find numerical approximations for solutions of equations. From the home screen press F2 to see the algebra menu as shown at the right. Two of the items on this menu are used to solve equations -- Solve( and nSolve(.
Solve( -- This procedure looks for solutions of an equation algebraically -- for example, the screen at the right shows a typical algebraic solution of a quadratic equation.
nSolve -- This procedure looks for solutions of an equation numerically -- for example, the screen at the right shows a typical solution of a fifth degree polynomial.
Algebraic procedures, like solve, are best because they can find exact solutions and they can find all the solutions. Numerical procedures like nSolve work even when algebraic procedures fail but they may not find all the solutions and they can only find approximations. Notice that in the screen at the right the numeric procedure nSolve only finds one solution. This screen was made using a pre-production sample of the TI-92 and production samples may be different.