fxNews November 2006 Volume 4

November 2006. Welcome to this fourth edition of fxNews. The aim of this edition is to continue to get fx-9860G users up and running with the new features of this lightening quick graphic calculator from Casio, including using the FA-124 software. Our tutorial this edition looks at converting your old CFX9850G programs to the new fx-9860G format.

Renew your fxNews subscription NOW and save 15% - just $165.75 for the next 12 months. Offer applies until December 8th 2006. After December 8th please use our standard subscription form.

How to load fxNews from CD onto your fx-9860G
Loading the software into the fx-9860G requires three basic steps and this tutorial explains them...

• copying the software from the files folder on the CD to the default My Documents/CASIO/FA-124 folder on your computer;
• loading the software into the FA-124; and
• transferring the software to the fx-9860G.

Our tutorials are designed to help students and teachers develop their skills with the fx-9860G.

How to convert CFX9850G programs to fx-9860G format.
This edition carries a four-page feature on converting old format programs to new. If you have a collection of programs for the older CFX9850G model and would like to use them on the fx-9860G there is an inbuilt conversion tool in the new FA124 software.

It's possible to transfer programs directly from the CFX9850G to the fx-9860G using a 3-pin cable. Many programs will work as intended using this method. The conversion tool will help if you no longer have a CFX9850G or are experiencing difficulties transferring directly from calculator to calculator.

This fourth edition of fxNews contains 19 new programs in file PROG06V4.g1m including the popular PDF - now called PDFFX to distinguish it from older versions. These programs have applications from lower school number work to upper school statistics.

Remember that fxNews programs are all password protected (password is FXNEWS) in order to help prevent accidental corruption of the program code. When not password protected, as soon users press AC then EXIT to break out of program execution, the fx-9860G immediately enters program edit mode and it is easy to add or delete code before the user realizes what is going on! Password protection prevents this from happening.

More can be found on the programs page.

Spreadsheets are one of the two major new features of the fx-9860G.

This edition of fxNews contains 5 new spreadsheets.

• FIB~3 This spreadsheet illustrates an investigation into a Fibonacci type recursive sequence. Each successive term is generated by the sum of the previous three terms. The question posed is how many of these terms are also square numbers?
• FIB~4 This is a variation of the first spreadsheet, where each successive term is generated by the sum of the previous four terms.
• LUCAS This spreadsheet explores the ratio of consecutive terms of the Lucas sequence. Students may recognize this as the Golden Ratio, and discover that in the long run this ratio is independent of the two starting terms.
• MAV34567 This spreadsheet automatically calculates 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 point moving averages for up to 20 data points entered into column B.
• TWO~DATA This spreadsheet is designed to help the user calculate either the combined mean and sd of two data sets; or the mean and sd of a data set split from a larger data set.

More can be found on the spreadsheets page.

eActivities are one of the two major new features of the fx-9860. What is an eActivity? To quote the Casio world site, 'The innovative eActivity functions of the fx-9860G series allow the students, not to mention teachers, to create their own problems or study materials.'

This edition of fxNews contains 3 new eActivities.

• LAT~LONG is an eActivity to help solve distance problems along lines of latitude or longitude between places on the earth. is an eActivity to help solve distance problems along lines of latitude or longitude between places on the earth.
• MATTRANS is a collection of notes strips that summarize common matrix transformations, together with some hints and examples. A companion summary sheet of all common matrix transformations is also included in this edition of fxNews.
• MOVINGAV is a set of Solve strips to help with calculation of 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 point moving averages, together with residuals.

More can be found on the eActivities page.

• Solving f(x)=0 in Solver
• Solve in RUN
• Solving quadratics in Solver
• Working with Lists
• Sub Names
• List Differences

These and more can be found on the Tips and Tricks page.

The review section of fxNews will present to you an up to date catalogue of the best resources and internet sites for the fx-9860G.

There is a link on the reviews page to the Casio Japan site where you can now download:

• fx-9860G Emulator Version 1.03
• fx-9860G AU Operating System Version 1.03
• E-con2 Version 1.00
• Physium Version 1.10
• Geometry Version 1.00

After spending quite a few hours searching the web, we have to report that most of the support is still coming from the manufacturer. more...

Renew your fxNews subscription NOW and save 15% - just $165.75 for the next 12 months. Offer applies until December 8th 2006. After December 8th please use our standard subscription form.

Look forward to finding Volume 1 of 2007 in your mail mid-March next year!

2006 fxNews Contents Index. A two-page summary of all the tutorials, programs, spreadsheets, eActivities and tips and tricks that have come your way this year.

Like to make a suggestion? Submit an article? Get in touch with the fxNews team? Find out more about fxNews...

Making things easy! The entire edition of fxNews is contained in a single document called fxNews2006Volume4.pdf. Simply open the document and you can print the entire edition. Easy!

© The Tuition Centre 2006. All fxNews publications and software for use by members of subscribing institute only.