Texas Instruments TI-89 User Manual

Page of 1008
Symbolic Manipulation
 235
Symbolic Manipulation
Symbolic Manipulation
Symbolic Manipulation
Symbolic Manipulation
Using Undefined or Defined Variables
Using Undefined or Defined Variables
Using Undefined or Defined Variables
Using Undefined or Defined Variables
When performing algebraic or calculus operations, it is important that you understand 
the effect of using undefined and defined variables. Otherwise, you may get a number 
for a result instead of the algebraic expression that you anticipated.
How Undefined and Defined Variables Are Treated
How Undefined and Defined Variables Are Treated
How Undefined and Defined Variables Are Treated
How Undefined and Defined Variables Are Treated
When you enter an expression that contains a variable, the TI-89 Titanium treats the 
variable in one of two ways.
To see why this is important, suppose you want to find the first derivative of x
3
 with 
respect to x.
If the variable is undefined, it is treated as 
an algebraic symbol.
If the variable is defined (even if defined 
as 0), its value replaces the variable.
If x is undefined, the result is in the form 
you probably expected.