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 + 3 | 5+ —3 | Addition |
2 | Answer | |
blinker | clears screen | |
6 – 4 | 6- —4 | Subtraction |
10 | Answer | |
blinker | clears screen | |
5 × 7 | 5* —7 | Multiplication |
—35 | Answer | |
blinker | clears screen | |
72 ÷ 8 | 72÷ —8 | Division |
—9 | Answer | |
Negatives |
Decimals
The decimal button is used frequently.
Input | Display | Comment |
blinker | clears screen | |
5 + 3 | 5+.3 | Addition |
5.3 | Answer | |
blinker | clears screen | |
6 – 4 | 6-.4 | Subtraction |
5.6 | Answer | |
blinker | clears screen | |
5 × 7 | 5*.7 | Multiplication |
3.5 | Answer | |
blinker | clears screen | |
72 ÷ 8 | 72÷.8 | Division |
90 | Answer | |
Decimals |
Percent
activates above
% is primarily a multiplier.
Input | Display | Comment |
blinker | clears screen | |
5 × 3 | 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 | |
1 2 + 1 4 |
+ | Addition |
Answer | ||
blinker | clears screen | |
1 2 – 1 4 |
– | Subtraction |
Answer | ||
blinker | clears screen | |
1 2 × 1 4 |
* | Multiplication |
Answer | ||
blinker | clears screen | |
1 2 ÷ 1 4 |
÷ | 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 | |
1 1 2 + 1 1 4 |
+ | Addition |
Answer | ||
blinker | clears screen | |
1 1 2 – 1 1 4 |
– | Subtraction |
Answer | ||
blinker | clears screen | |
1 1 2 × 1 1 4 |
* | Multiplication |
Answer | ||
blinker | clears screen | |
1 1 2 ÷ 1 1 4 |
÷ | 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 | (-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 |
√9 |
Square Root of 9 |
3 | Answer | |
blinker | clears screen | |
48 |
√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 4 | 74 | 7 to the power of 4 |
2401 | Answer | |
blinker | clears screen | |
-7 4 | (-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 | |
3 343 |
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 6 | 7*106 | Scientific Notation |
blinker | clears screen | |
7 6 + 2 6 |
7*106 + 2*106 | Addition |
9000000 | Answer | |
blinker | clears screen | |
7 6 – 2 6 |
7*106 – 2*106 | Subtraction |
5000000 | Answer | |
blinker | clears screen | |
7 6 × 2 6 |
7*106 * 2*106 | Multiplication |
1.4*1013 | Answer | |
blinker | clears screen | |
7 6 ÷ 2 6 |
(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 | |
1 4 | ||
0.25 | Toggle | |
Toggle | ||
blinker | clears screen | |
48 |
√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!