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Casio fx-991MS tips and tricks

l33tsp34k

Introduction
The Casio fx-991MS is an affordable scientific calculator with many powerful
features. Some of these can greatly reduce the effort to solve problems, while
others can be abused in interesting and fun ways. Being able to use these
features can also be helpful on tests and exams where scientific calculators are
allowed but more powerful graphing calculators are not.
On this page, I will show you some advanced and clever tricks that you can do
with the calculator. Although the article is for the Casio fx-991MS calculator (and

all the tricks mentioned here are guaranteed to work on it), the calculator features
and underlying mathematical principles for the tricks are quite general and can be
applied to many other calculators as well. (When you understand the trick and
your calculators features, youll be able to translate the instructions for your
situation.)

Official Casio manuals

This article assumes that you know the basics of how to use the calculator. If not,
please read the user manuals and review how to use the features on the
calculator. The official Casio manuals are available in PDF format here:

Users Guide (PDF)

Users Guide 2 (Additional Functions) (PDF)

Contents

Standard tricks
o

Solve polynomials and linear systems

Solve arbitrary equations

Evaluate a function at many points

Random number generation

Degree-minute-second conversion

Numerical differentiation

Numerical integration

Display and key test

Iterating formulas
Simple iterations

Arithmetic sequence

Geometric sequence

Repeated squaring

Logistic map

Newtons method iteration

Fixed point iteration

Taylor series iterations

Exponential function

Cosine function

Sine function

Fibonacci sequence iteration

Greatest common divisor iteration

Miscellaneous tricks
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l33tsp34k

Store 80 numbers

Wish list

Standard tricks
These tricks are just built-in features of the calculator that are not entirely
obvious, because the previous generation of scientific calculators did not have
these features.
Solve polynomials and linear systems
To solve a quadratic or cubic polynomial equation:
1.

Go to EQN mode and scroll over to the Degree?section (MODE MODE MODE
1 ).

2.

Enter the degree (2 or 3).

3.

Enter the 3 or 4 (real) polynomial coefficients, from highest degree

downward.

4.

Scroll up and down through the solution set. Complex-valued solutions are
included.

To solve a system of linear equations in 2 or 3 variables:

1.
2.

Go to EQN mode and stay at the Unknowns?section (MODE MODE MODE 1)

Enter the number of variables, which is also the number of equations
(2 or 3)

3.

Enter the 6 or 12 coefficients of the system of linear equations.

4.

Scroll up and down through the solution vector.

Polynomials equations and linear systems are frequently occurring problems in

mathematics and sciences, which makes this calculator feature one of the most
useful ones.
Solve arbitrary equations
To solve an arbitrary equation of one variable:

1.

Enter the equation on the formula line. (e.g.,

2.

Press SOLVE (SHIFT CALC).

3X8=5)

3.

Give an initial guess for the variable and press the equals button. Try to
give a value near an actual solution, or else solving will be slow or will fail.
(However if the equation is linear, then any initial value works.)

4.

Press SOLVE again (SHIFT CALC). You may need to wait a few seconds.

5.

Read the result. (e.g., X=4.333333333)

The calculator uses a form of Newtons method (as mentioned in the manual) to
solve the equation. The algorithm can easily hang, fail, or give a wrong answer,
so beware it is not an automatic solver for all equations.
Tip: Although linear equations are simple to solve in theory, letting the calculator
solve it for you can still save you some algebraic manipulation. Heres an
example problem: The 3 angles in a triangle are A, B, and C. B is twice of A. Cis
triple of B. Find the value of B. The solution can be found by solving the
equation B2+B+3B=180.
Evaluate a function at many points
You can evaluate an arbitrary function (of one or more variables) at different
arguments without re-entering the functions definition repeatedly. Procedure:
1.

Enter the expression defining the function. (e.g.

X2+Y)

2.

Press CALC.

3.

For each variable in the expression, give it a value.

4.

Read the value of the evaluated expression.

5.

To evaluate the function at another argument, go to step 2 (not step 1).

For example, this makes it much easier to use the rational root theorem to factor
or solve polynomials.
Random number generation
The pseudo-variable Ran# (SHIFT .) gives a uniformly distributed random number
in the range [0, 1) with a step size of 0.001. It takes on a random value for each
instance in a formula and for each evaluation of a formula. (e.g. Ran#+Ran#has a
different distribution than 2Ran#.)
To get an integer in the range [0, N), evaluate NRan# and mentally discard the
fractional part of the result. This can be useful answering multiple-choice
questions, e.g. Go left or right?.
To get a finer step size, use Ran#+0.001Ran# (step size 106)
or Ran#+0.001Ran#+0.000001Ran# (step size 109).
Degree-minute-second conversion

We inherited the sexagesimal (base-60) number system from the Babylonians.

While it makes some division problems easier for mental arithmetic, generally
speaking decimal fractions are far easier to work with in practice. But for those
times when you do need to work in sexagesimal or convert between it and
decimal, this calculator comes to the rescue. It supports number input in degreeminute-second format, and can convert to and from decimal format. See the
manual for details, or just play around with the button.
Obviously, this feature is useful for doing calculations with angles expressed in
DMS notation. But I think its less well known that it helps calculations involving
time, too. Dont you remember that there are 60 minutes in an hour and 60
seconds in a minute? These subdivisions are the same as the DMS scheme.
To illustrate how DMS features can be used to solve time-related problems, I
present some example exercises:

You arrived at work at 08:42:44 and left at 17:24:59. How long were you
present at work?
Answer: 172459 084244, which yields 84215. This means 8 hours, 42
minutes, and 15 seconds. Pressing the button swiftly converts this answer
to about 8.704 hours.

You start driving at 21:30:00 at a speed of 30 m/s, and you need to travel
150 km. At what time will you reach your destination?
Answer: 2130 + 1501000303600, which yields 22:53:20 (exact).

Numerical differentiation
The numerical differentiation operation (SHIFT dx) takes 2 or 3 arguments:
1.

The function of X to differentiate

2.

The point where the derivative is evaluated at

3.

The change in X (optional)

For example: d/dx(X^X,0.5) = 0.216976666. (The true value is about

0.216977710.)
Numerical integration
The numerical integration operation (dx) takes 3 or 4 arguments:
1.

The function of X to integrate

2.

The lower limit

3.

The upper limit

4.

The amount of partitioning (optional)

If the amount of partitioning is n, then the number of partitions is 2n. See Users
Guide 2 for more details.

Example of usage, while varying the amount of partitioning:

(X1,1,2,1)

= 0.7

(X1,1,2,2)

= 0.69

(X1,1,2,3)

= 0.6932

(X1,1,2,4)

= 0.69315

(X1,1,2,5)

= 0.693147

(X1,1,2,6)

= 0.6931472

(X1,1,2,7)

= 0.69314718

(X1,1,2,8)

= 0.693147181

(X1,1,2,9)

= 0.69314718

The true value is ln 2, approximately 0.693147181.

Warning: Most functions integrate much more slowly and yield more error than
this example.
Display and key test
To enter the calculators display and key test mode, press and hold SHIFT and 7,
then ON. To exit the test at any time, press ON. (Note: Pressing 7 is not necessary
on some older versions of this calculator.)
The first phase is the display test. Press
LCD patterns:

SHIFT

to step through the sequence of

1.

All segments on

2.

All segments off

3.

Half of segments on

4.

The other half of segments on

5.

Many copies of a single digit, from 0 to 9

The last display test shows 999999999999. Pressing SHIFTagain starts the second
phase, the key test. To complete the test, press every key (except ON) in order
from left to right, top to bottom. The number on the screen increments every time
you correctly hit the next key in the sequence. Dont press ON unless you intend
to quit!

Iterating formulas
A major difference between this calculator and older scientific calculators is that
this calculator does not evaluate the expression while you input it. After you finish
entering the expression, you press the equals key (=) and the calculator
evaluates the expression all at once.

The most recent expression evaluated can be re-evaluated simply by pressing

the equals key. The result of each evaluation is always saved in the answer
variable (Ans). For single-statement iterations, it is most convenient to use Ansas
the iterated variable. For example, Ans+1 is functionally equivalent but easier to
type than X=X+1.
Multi-statement iterations can be written by using colon ( ALPHA dx) to separate
the statements. When evaluating, press the equals key once per statement, and
the calculator evaluates them in sequence. When all the statements in the line
have been evaluated, pressing the equals key will go back to evaluating the first
statement. For example, A=A+2:B=B3 is a multi-statement line.
Remember to give initial values to all the variables used in the iterations.
Simple iterations
Arithmetic sequence
For example, starting at 0 and counting up by 1:
1. Initialize: Evaluate 0 (sets Ans to 0).
2. Iterate: Evaluate Ans+1.
Geometric sequence
For example, starting at 1 and doubling:
1. Initialize: Evaluate 1 (sets Ans to 1).
2. Iterate 2Ans.
Repeated squaring
For example, starting at 1.000000001 and squaring:
1. Initialize: Evaluate 1.000000001 (sets Ans to 1.000000001).
2. Iterate Ans2.
(The value overflows after 38 iterations.)
Logistic map
For example, the chaos at r = 4:
1. Initialize: Evaluate 0.2 (sets Ans to 0.2).
2. Iterate 4Ans(1Ans) and watch the randomness.
Newtons method iteration
To solve an equation of the form f(x) = 0:
1.

Set Ans to an initial value close to a root (solution).

2.

Iterate the expression Ans f(Ans)/f(Ans), where f is the derivative of f.

For example, to solve x2 3 = 0:

1.

Initialize: Evaluate 1000(Ran#0.5).

2.

Iterate Ans(Ans23)/(2Ans).

After a number of iterations, the result should converge to 1.732050808 or

1.732050808, depending on the initial value.
Fixed point iteration
It is possible to solve equations of the form f(x) = x by simply iterating xnext = f(x).
Examples:

Iterating cos Ans, the answer converges to 0.739085133 in radians mode

and 0.999847741 in degrees mode.
Iterating eAns (i.e., eAns), the answer converges to 0.567143290.

Unfortunately, fixed point iteration is generally slower and less reliable than
Newtons method.
Taylor series iterations
We can manually simulate some elementary functions using naive Taylor series.
Exponential function
1. Initialize X with the argument of your choice.
2. Initialize: Y=1, A=0, C=0
3. Iterate: A=A+Y : Y=YX(C+1) : C=C+1
4. Read the answer from A.
Cosine function
1. Initialize X with the argument of your choice.
2. Initialize: Y=1, A=0, C=0
3. Iterate: A=A+Y : Y=YX2(C+1)(C+2) : C=C+2
4. Read the answer from A.
Sine function
1. Initialize X with the argument of your choice.
2. Initialize: Y=X, A=0, C=1
3. Iterate: A=A+Y : Y=YX2(C+1)(C+2) : C=C+2
4. Read the answer from A.
Fibonacci sequence iteration
Procedure:

1.

Initialize: A=0, B=1

2.

Iterate: C=A+B : A=B : B=C

Greatest common divisor iteration

This is based on the original Euclidean algorithm, which uses repeated
subtraction rather than the modulus (remainder) operation. The procedure:
1.

Set the mode to complex numbers (MODE 2). (This is needed in order to
use the absolute value function.)

2.

Initialize: Set A and B to be the natural numbers whose GCD will be

computed.

3.

Iterate: A = A B (tanh(20A20B) + Abs tanh(20A20B)) 2 : B = B A

(tanh(20B20A) + Abs tanh(20B20A)) 2. (Quite a mouthful, isnt it?)

4.

When A and B converge to the same number, that number is the GCD
answer.

Note that the function f(x) = (tanh(20x) |tanh(20x)|) / 2 hackily emulates a step
function, with f(x) = 0 for x 0 and f(x) = 1 for x 1. (This is due to the finite
precision and rounding.)
Thanks to Bojan Petrovic for suggesting this trick!

Miscellaneous tricks
l33tsp34k
The calculator contains a palette of symbols, which can be used to spell out
words and phrases in l33tsp34k. The complete (Latin) alphabet cannot be spelled
out, but this can make the exercise more fun.
Letter

Character

Meaning

Key sequence

Variable A

ALPHA ()

Digit 4

Fine structure constant

CONST 10

Variable B

ALPHA

Digit 8

Variable C

ALPHA hyp

Combination function

SHIFT +

Variable D

ALPHA sin

Variable E

ALPHA cos

E notation separator

EXP

Exponential function

SHIFT ln

Elementary charge

CONST 23

B
C

Letter

Character

Meaning

Key sequence

Eulers number

ALPHA ln

Digit 3

Variable F

ALPHA tan

Faraday constant

CONST 22

SI prefix femto

SHIFT 1

SI prefix giga

SHIFT 8

Gravitational constant

CONST 39

Standard gravity

CONST 35

Planck constant

CONST 06

Imaginary unit

ENG (only in

Digit 1

SI prefix kilo

SHIFT 6

Boltzmann constant

CONST 25

Digit 1

Variable M

ALPHA M+

SI prefix mega

SHIFT 7

SI prefix milli

SHIFT 5

SI prefix nano

SHIFT 3

Digit 0

Permutation function

SHIFT

SI prefix pico

SHIFT 2

Ideal gas constant

CONST 27

Digit 5

SI prefix tera

SHIFT 9

Celsius temperature

CONST 38

Digit 7

Atomic mass unit

CONST 17

Variable X

ALPHA )

Times

Variable Y

ALPHA ,

Digit 2

complex mode)

The letters that cannot be represented are J, Q, V, W. Discovering the

punctuation that can be entered is left as an exercise for the reader.

Store 80 numbers
In the SD mode, you can store a sequence of up to 80 numbers, which persist
even after a power cycle. To store a number, enter a literal number or an
expression, then pressing DT (M+). To retrieve the numbers, scroll through the
sequence of stored numbers by pressing up or down ( , ).
In theory, any information can be stored as numbers. (Modern digital computers
are built completely on this fact.) For example, if you want to store text on the
calculator, just devise a coding scheme that maps between letters and numbers.
Note that with the precision available, each number on this calculator can hold up
to about 40.7 bits of information.
Wish list
It would be nice if the Casio fx-991MS had these features. Theyre not found on
other scientific calculators, but they are sometimes found on graphing calculators,
and theyre certainly available on general-purpose computers (even
smartphones):

Integer division, modulo, power modulo, reciprocal modulo, greatest

common divisor

Gamma function (real-valued factorial), other special functions

Fully implemented complex number functions (e.g. sine of complex

number, exp of complex number, etc.)

More info

CASIO Worldwide Education Website: fx-991MS

CASIO: Support - Manuals - Calculators

Categories: Math
Last updated: 2013-08-05

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