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How to switch between degrees and radians on a TI-84 Plus or TI-83 Plus

By E-Code · updated

Press MODE, press ▼ twice to the RADIAN DEGREE row, move onto DEGREE (or RADIAN) with ▶ and press ENTER, then 2nd QUIT. In degrees sin(30) is 0.5; in radians it is −0.988.

Step by step

  1. Type sin(30). SIN 3 0 ) Press SIN, then 3, 0 and ).
  2. Look at the answer. ENTER Press ENTER. You get −0.988, not 0.5! The calculator is in radians, so it read 30 as 30 radians.
  3. Open MODE. MODE Press MODE. One row says RADIAN DEGREE; the highlighted word is the one that's on.
  4. Go down to RADIAN DEGREE. ▼ ▼ Press ▼ twice to reach the RADIAN DEGREE row.
  5. Move to DEGREE. ▶ Press ▶ to move onto DEGREE.
  6. Turn on degrees. ENTER Press ENTER. DEGREE is now highlighted.
  7. Go back home. 2nd MODE Press 2nd, then MODE. QUIT (above MODE) takes you back to the home screen.
  8. Bring back sin(30). 2nd ENTER Press 2nd, then ENTER to bring back the line you typed.
  9. Try again. ENTER Press ENTER.

What the screen shows

Look for .5 on the screen.

TI-84 Plus screen: sin(30) is 0.5 in degrees. Check MODE before every trig test: the highlighted word on the RADIAN DEGREE row is on.

Try it with the keys lit up

This guide is one of E-Code's Learn lessons. Open it on E-Code's TI-84 calculator and each key lights up in turn as you press it.

Try “Switch between degrees and radians” on the TI-84 calculator

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