Basics
The TI-30XS MultiView Scientific Calculator, pictured at the top of this page, is the official calculator of the GED. The GED provides an on-screen TI-30XS MultiView Scientific Calculator during the test, but you will need the handheld TI-30XS MultiView Scientific Calculator while you study before the test, especially outside of class. As a supplement to the on-screen calculator, you should bring your own handheld calculator for use at the test. No other brand of handheld calculator is allowed. The TI-30XS MultiView Scientific Calculator is available for about $20.00 from many different vendors, including Amazon, Best Buy, Office Depot, Staples, and Walmart, to name a few.
GED.com provides several study materials regarding the calculator, including the following:
• calculator tutorial – english
• calculator tutorial – spanish
• on-screen calculator video – english
• on-screen calculator video – spanish
• calculator reference sheet – english
• calculator reference sheet – spanish
• mathematics formula sheet – english
• mathematics formula sheet – spanish
• mathematics symbol selector
The calculator is utilized mainly in the Mathematical Reasoning module, but also sees action in the Social Studies and Science modules.
Clearing
At the start of a new calculation, clear the screen.
If you make an error entering a calculation, start over and clear the screen.
When in doubt, start over and clear the screen.
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
Clearing |
Number Sense
Number Sense means knowing your way around numbers.
Number Sense’s core skills involve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
5 + 3 | 5+3 | Addition |
![]() |
8 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
6 – 4 | 6-4 | Subtraction |
![]() |
2 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
5 × 7 | 5*7 | Multiplication |
![]() |
35 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
72 ÷ 8 | 72÷8 | Division |
![]() |
9 | Answer |
Number Sense |
Negatives
The (-) button is used for calculating with negative numbers (numbers less than zero).
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
5 + ![]() |
5+ —3 | Addition |
![]() |
2 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
6 – ![]() |
6- —4 | Subtraction |
![]() |
10 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
5 × ![]() |
5* —7 | Multiplication |
![]() |
—35 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
72 ÷ ![]() |
72÷ —8 | Division |
![]() |
—9 | Answer |
Negatives |
Decimals
The decimal button is used frequently.
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
5 + ![]() |
5+.3 | Addition |
![]() |
5.3 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
6 – ![]() |
6-.4 | Subtraction |
![]() |
5.6 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
5 × ![]() |
5*.7 | Multiplication |
![]() |
3.5 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
72 ÷ ![]() |
72÷.8 | Division |
![]() |
90 | Answer |
Decimals |
Percent
activates
above
% is primarily a multiplier.
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
5 ![]() |
5%*3 | Multiplication |
![]() |
0.15 | Answer |
Percent |
Fractions
A calculator operation with fractions produces an answer in fraction form.
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() + ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Addition | |
![]() |
Answer | |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() ![]() – ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Subtraction | |
![]() |
Answer | |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() × ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Multiplication | |
![]() |
Answer | |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() ÷ ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Division | |
![]() |
2 | Answer |
Fractions |
Mixed Fractions (also known as Mixed Numbers)
activates
above
A calculator operation with mixed fractions produces an answer in fraction form.
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Addition | |
![]() |
Answer | |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() – ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Subtraction | |
![]() |
Answer | |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() × ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Multiplication | |
![]() |
Answer | |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ÷ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Division | |
![]() |
Answer | |
Mixed Fractions |
Square
Number Squared = Number² = Number × Itself
3 squared = 3² = 3 × 3 = 9
In order to get the correct answer when squaring a negative number, place the negative number in parentheses to protect the order of operations.
Right: -3 squared = (-3)² = 9
Wrong: -3 squared = -3² = -9
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
3 ![]() |
3² | 3 squared |
![]() |
9 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
(-3)² | -3 squared
Parentheses protect order of operations. |
![]() |
9 | Answer |
Number² |
Square Root
activates
above
Square Root = √Number² = √Number × Itself
Square Root of 9 = √9 = √3² = √3 × 3 = 3
Sometimes, by using factoring, the calculator will produce an answer that retains the square root symbol:
Square Root of 48 = 4√3
When an answer shows √ immediately adjacent to a number, an invisible multiplication sign is in force:
4 × √3 = 4√3
The root sign √ is also known as the radical sign.
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() |
√9 |
Square Root of 9 |
![]() |
3 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() |
√48 |
Square Root of 48 |
![]() |
4√3 |
Answer |
Square Root |
Power
NumberPower
The term power refers to how many times a number is multiplied by itself.
7 to the power of 5 = 75 = 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 16807
7 to the power of -5 = 7-5 = ×
×
×
×
= 0.000059499
In order to get the correct answer when calculating the power of a negative number, place the negative number in parentheses to protect the order of operations.
Right: -7 to the power of 4 = (-7)4 = 2401
Wrong: -7 to the power of 4 = -74 = -2401
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
7 ![]() |
74 | 7 to the power of 4 |
![]() |
2401 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
(-7)4 | -7 to the power of 4
Parentheses protect order of operations. |
![]() |
2401 | Answer |
Power |
Root
activates
above
Root√Number
The root sign √ is also known as the radical sign.
Third Root of 343 = ³√343 = ³√7³ = ³√7 × 7 × 7 = 7
Fourth Root of 2401 = 4√2401 = 4√74 = 4√7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 7
Fifth Root of 16807 = 5√16807 = 5√75 = 5√7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 7
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
3 ![]() ![]() |
³√343 |
Third Root of 343 |
![]() |
7 | Answer |
Root |
Scientific Notation
Scientific notation is used to represent large or small numbers as a power of ten.
1 × 106 = 1000000
7 × 106 = 7000000
1 × 10-6 = 0.000001
7 × 10-6 = 0.000007
In order to get the correct answer with division involving scientific notation, parentheses are needed to protect the order of operations.
Right: (7 × 106) ÷ (2 × 106) = 3.5
Wrong: 7 × 106 ÷ 2 × 106 = 3.5 × 1012
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
7 ![]() |
7*106 | Scientific Notation |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
7 ![]() ![]() + 2 ![]() ![]() |
7*106 + 2*106 | Addition |
![]() |
9000000 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
7 ![]() ![]() – 2 ![]() ![]() |
7*106 – 2*106 | Subtraction |
![]() |
5000000 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
7 ![]() ![]() × 2 ![]() ![]() |
7*106 * 2*106 | Multiplication |
![]() |
1.4*1013 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ÷ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(7*106) ÷ (2*106) | Division
Parentheses protect order of operations. |
![]() |
3.5 | Answer |
Scientific Notation |
π
π represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter (approximately 3.14).
π is also known as pi.
π is primarily a multiplier.
When an answer shows π immediately adjacent to a number, an invisible multiplication sign is in force:
5 × π = 5π
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
5 × ![]() |
5*π | |
![]() |
5π | Answer |
π |
Toggle
The toggle button enables switching between results:
fraction ⇔ decimal
square root ⇔ decimal
π ⇔ decimal
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
||
![]() |
||
![]() |
0.25 | Toggle |
![]() |
Toggle | |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() |
√48 |
|
![]() |
4√3 |
|
![]() |
6.928203230276 | Toggle |
![]() |
4√3 |
Toggle |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() |
π | |
![]() |
π | |
![]() |
3.1415922654 | Toggle |
![]() |
π | Toggle |
Toggle |
I am trying to start a GED prep class and appreciate your resources.
Hi, Peg
Good luck with your class. Let me know if there’s anything more I can do to help.
Scott
thankyou for the breakdown on the calculator! i have been struggling on learning how to navigate it! thankyou!