HP 40gs HP 39gs_40gs_Mastering The Graphing Calculator_English_E_F2224-90010.p - Page 9

3 GETTING STARTED Let's begin by looking at the fundamentals - the layout of the keyboard and the positions of the important keys used frequently. The sketch below shows most of the important keys. As can be seen on the previous pages, the keyboards for the hp 39gs and hp 40gs are exactly the same except for the different color schemes. These keys are the ones which control the operation of the calculator - most others are simply used to do calculations once the important keys have set up the environment to do it in. The NUM key gives you a tabular view of your function, sequence or data. The PLOT key displays the graph view for any given environment. The SYMB key nearly always takes you to a view in which you can enter equations. HOME is where you will do most of your calculations. It is shared by all the aplets and oversees them all. The ALPHA key accesses the alphabetical chars below most buttons. The SHIFT key accesses the extra functions above most buttons. These six screen keys change their function in different contexts. The bar at the bottom of the screen labels them. Check this bar for special functions in any given context. These are the arrow keys. They let you move within a screen. The VIEWS key gives a different menu in each aplet. It can be very useful, and is always worth checking. The APLET key is central. This key allows you to choose which mathematical environment you wish to work in. Examples of the effects of each of these keys and many more are shown on the pages that follow. 9