View source for Calculator Tips/Statics

This page used to live at [[Calculator Tips]] but is now its own thing!  This will be mostly useful for using a calculator to do work in a class needing vector math, specifically EGR 201 (Mechanics of Solids) which is sometimes called Statics.

= Statics Functions =
== TI-83/84 ==
Not as many built-in functions for vectors / matrices.  See [http://www.tc3.edu/instruct/sbrown/ti83/vecprod.htm http://www.tc3.edu/instruct/sbrown/ti83/vecprod.htm] for a program that will help with cross products.

== TI-89 ==
=== Vectors in General ===
Vectors may be entered surrounded by [ ].  That is, for some vector <math>\vec{r}</math>:
<center><math>
\begin{align}
\vec{r}&=r_x\hat{\imath}+r_y\hat{\jmath}+r_z\hat{k}
\end{align}
</math></center>
say, 
<center><math>
\begin{align}
\vec{r}&=3\hat{\imath}-2\hat{\jmath}+6\hat{k}
\end{align}
</math></center>
the TI version of the vector would be:
 [3, -2, 6]
Note that the result will actually be surrounded by two sets of square brackets, representing a matrix.
Be sure to use the unary negative operator (-) versus the binary subtraction operator - at the start of negative entries.
=== Dot and Cross Products ===
* Vector operations on TI Calculators: [http://www.phys.lsu.edu/classes/spring2010/phys1100/TI_calc_vec.pdf www.phys.lsu.edu/classes/spring2010/phys1100/TI_calc_vec.pdf]
=== Unit Directions ===
*To find the unit direction for a vector, use
**<2nd>--<5>MATH--<4>Matrix--L:Vector ops--<1>unitV()
=== Coordinate Angles ===
*To find the coordinate angles of a vector, you should first get the unit direction vector.  Then, you must turn the unit direction vector into a list before taking the arccos of the list.  Lists are surrounded by {} instead of [].  To convert a vector to a list, use
**<2nd>--<5>MATH--<3>List--F:mat->list()<br>and put the desired matrix in as the argument; the result will be surrounded by {}.  You can then apply the arccos to the list and get all three coordinate direction angles at once!