Using the TI 89/92 in Number Theory
Michael McConnell
Clarion University
Clarion, PA 16214
E-mail: mmcconnell@clarion.edu
ABSTRACT
A lot has been said about the use of the graphing capabilities of
calculators in mathematics classes.
This presentation, however,
focuses on the use of the symbolic capabilities of the TI 89 and TI
92.
The calculators' ability to do algebraic manipulations in
symbolic form provides many opportunities for students to generate
examples and explore patterns in higher level mathematics courses. In
particular, this presentation looks at an activity for Number Theory.
The TI 89/92 is
used to symbolically expand the powers Golden Ratio,
providing a pattern used
to derive the Binet formulas for the
Fibonacci and Lucas numbers.
Then the question is explored in the situation where a Fibonacci-type
sequence is defined with the iterative definition
S_{n+2}=cS_{n}+dS_{n+1}
where c and d are integers.
