HP Prime Graphing Calculator

Quick Start Guide

© Copyright 2015–2017 HP Development Company, L.P.

The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and
services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein
should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or
omissions contained herein.

Third Edition: October 2017

First Edition: March 2015

Document Part Number: 813267-003

Product notice
The keyboard legend table and photo on the following page illustrate a few of the many features available on the HP
Prime Graphing Calculator. These features, as well as other features of the calculator, are discussed in this quick start
guide. For a complete list of features, see the HP Prime Graphing Calculator User Guide available on the HP website:
http://www.hp.com/support.

Product Regulatory & Environment Information

Product Regulatory and Environment Information is provided on the CD shipped with this product.

2 Quick Start Guide

Keyboard legend

Number Feature
1 LCD and touch screen: 320 × 240 pixels

2 Context-sensitive touch-button menu

3 HP Apps keys
1
4 Home view and Home preference settings

5 Common math and science functions 2 17

16
6 Alpha and Shift keys
3 15
7 On, Cancel, and Off key 14
4 13
8 List, matrix, program, and note catalogs 12
9 Last Answer key (Ans) 11

10 Enter key
5
11 Backspace and Delete key 10
12 Menu (and Paste) key

13 CAS view and CAS preference settings

14 View (and Copy) key 6

15 Escape (and Clear) key

16 Help key 7 9

17 Rocker wheel (for cursor movement) 8

Quick Start Guide 3

4 Quick Start Guide
Getting started 9
Guide conventions 9
Charging the battery 9
Installing the software 10
Turning the calculator on and off 10
Resetting the HP Prime calculator 10
Home view 10
Navigation 11
Touch gestures 11
Home Settings 12
Entering and editing expressions 13
Methods 13
Example 13
Entering text 14
Editing, deleting, and clearing 14
Last answer 14
Using variables 14
Copy and paste 15
Getting help 15
Menu items 16
Check boxes 16
Choose boxes 16
Input fields 16
Computer algebra system (CAS) 16
CAS settings 17
CAS calculations: Some examples 17
CAS menu 18
Using CAS in Home view 18
HP apps and their views 18
HP apps 18
Data persistence 19
Data sharing 19
App views 20
Quick Start Guide 5
 Symbolic view: @ 20
Symbolic Setup view: S@ 20
Plot view: P 20
Plot Setup view: SP 20
Numeric view: N 21
Numeric Setup view: SN 21
Graphing methods 21
Primary apps 22
Function, Advanced Graphing, Graph 3D, Parametric, Polar, and Sequence apps 22
Advanced Graphing app 25
Graph 3D app 27
Parametric app 28
Polar app 29
Sequence app 29
Geometry app 30
Spreadsheet app 33
Navigation, selection and gestures 33
Entering content 33
Cell references and naming 34
Copy and paste 34
Menu items 34
Statistics 1Var app 35
Statistics 2Var app 37
Inference app 39
DataStreamer app (select models only) 39
Solve app 41
Solver apps 42
Finance app 42
Example 1 43
Solution 43
Example 2 43
Solution 43
Linear Solver app 44
6 Quick Start Guide
 Example 44
Solution 44
Triangle Solver app 44
Example 44
Solution 45
Explorer app 45
Creating customized apps 46
Toolbox menus 47
Math menu 47
Menu format 47
CAS menu 47
App menu 48
User menu 48
Catalog Menu (Catlg) 48
Catalogs and Editors 49
List Catalog and Editor 49
Matrix Catalog and Editor 50
Program Catalog and Editor 51
Note Catalog and Editor 52

Quick Start Guide 7

8 Quick Start Guide
 1
Getting started
The HP Prime Graphing Calculator is an easy-to-use yet powerful graphing calculator designed for secondary mathematics
education and beyond. It offers hundreds of functions, and includes a computer algebra system (CAS) for symbolic
calculations. This quick start guide covers basic tasks, such as entering and editing expressions, plotting their graphs, and
creating tables of values generated by expressions. It also serves as an introduction to HP apps. HP apps are special
applications designed for the study and exploration of branches of mathematics or to solve problems of one or more special
types. Advanced topics, such as the CAS, geometry, lists, matrices, programs, and the spreadsheet, are also briefly described.
For detailed information, refer to the HP Prime Graphing Calculator User Guide. Online help is also available on the calculator.
Press ^ to display information about the current screen and to access calculator-wide information.
The calculator’s keyboard provides access to unshifted functions and shifted functions. An unshifted function is one that you
initiate by pressing a single key. For example, pressing a opens the Variables menu. A shifted function is initiated with a
key combination. For example, to select the natural exponential function, you press Sj. Notice that the name or
symbol of a shifted function is printed in blue or orange on the second line on the key. Certain operators and characters can
also be entered by key combinations.
Guide conventions
To help you differentiate between keyboard and on-screen display options, this guide uses the following conventions:
• A key that initiates an unshifted function is represented by an image of that key: for example, @.
• A key combination that initiates a shifted function (or inserts a character) is represented by the appropriate shift key (S
or A) followed by the key for that function or character. For example, Sj initiates the natural exponential
function and A3 inserts the number sign (#), which is also known as the hash sign. The name of the shifted
function may also be given after the key combination, as in S& (Clear).
• A key pressed to insert a digit is represented by that digit: for example, 7.
• All fixed on-screen text, such as screen and field names, appears in bold: for example, X Step.
• Items you can select from a menu, and characters on the entry line, are set in a monospaced font: for example,
Function, Integrate, nextprime, Ans, and so on.
• A menu item selected by tapping the screen is represented by an image of that item: for example, .
• Bread-crumb notation is used to represent a selection from sub-menus or sub-sub-menus. For example, “Select
Polynomial > Algebra > Quotient” means first select Polynomial, then select Algebra, and finally select
Quotient.
• Cursor keys are represented by =, \, >, and <, located on the rocker wheel. You use these keys to move from field
to field on a screen, from one option to another in a menu, or from one plot to another when you have a number of
functions plotted.
Charging the battery
Charge the battery fully before using the calculator for the first time. To charge the battery, do one of the following:
• Connect the calculator to a computer using the USB cable that came in the package with your HP Prime calculator.
• Connect the calculator to an AC outlet using the HP-provided AC adapter.

Quick Start Guide 9

When the calculator is on, a battery symbol appears in the title bar of the screen. Its appearance will indicate how much
power the battery has. A flat battery will take approximately 4 hours to become fully charged.

WARNING!
- To reduce the risk of fire or burns, do not disassemble, crush or puncture the battery; do not short the external
contacts; and do not dispose of the battery in fire or water.
- To reduce potential safety risks, only use the battery provided with the calculator, a replacement battery provided by
HP, or a compatible battery recommended by HP. There is a risk of explosion if the battery is replaced with one of an
incompatible type.
- Dispose of a battery according to the instructions.
- Keep the battery away from children.
- If you encounter problems when charging the calculator, stop charging and contact HP immediately.

WARNING!
- To reduce the risk of electric shock or damage to equipment, only plug the wall adapter into an AC outlet that is easily
accessible at all times.
- To reduce other potential safety risks, only use the wall adapter provided with the calculator, a replacement wall
adapter provided by HP, or a wall adapter purchased as an accessory from HP.

Installing the software

While you wait for your HP Prime calculator to fully charge, insert the product CD into your computer and install HP
Connectivity Kit. This software application helps you get the most out of your HP Prime calculator.
Turning the calculator on and off
To turn the calculator on, press O. To turn it off, press SO (Off).
To adjust the brightness of the screen, press and hold O and then press either + or : repeatedly. Pressing +
increases the brightness; pressing : decreases it.
Resetting the HP Prime calculator
If your HP Prime calculator stops responding for any reason, first verify that the batteries are sufficiently charged. If the
calculator still does not respond, press and hold O while pressing @ to reset the calculator. If the calculator still does
not respond, insert a pin into the reset hole on the back of the calculator and press lightly.
Home view
Home view is the starting point for many calculations. Press H to Title bar
display it. Home view has four sections (shown at the right). The
title bar shows either the screen name or the name of the app that
is currently selected, such as Function in the example at the right.
History
It also shows the time, a battery power indicator, and a number of
symbols that indicate various calculator settings. These are
explained in the user guide. The history displays a record of your
past calculations. The entry line displays the object you are Entry line
currently entering or modifying. The object could be a parameter, Menu buttons

10 Quick Start Guide

expression, list, matrix, line of programming code, etc. The menu buttons are options that are relevant to the current display.
These options are selected by tapping the corresponding menu button. (Only a labeled button has a function.) Some menu
buttons open a further menu. To close such a menu without making a selection from it, press &.
Navigation
The HP Prime calculator offers two modes of navigation: touch screen and keyboard. In many cases, you can tap an icon,
field, menu, or object to select (or deselect) it. For example, you can open the Function app in the Application Library by
tapping its icon once. However, to open the Application Library, you will need to press a key: !. Selections can often be
made either by tapping or by using the keys. For instance, in addition to tapping an icon in the Application Library, you can
press the cursor keys until the app you want to open is highlighted, and then press E. Sometimes both a touch gesture
and a key–touch combination is available. For example, you can deselect a toggle option either by tapping it, or by using the
cursor keys to move to the field and then tapping a touch button along the bottom of the screen (in this case ). Note
that and E perform the same function, as do and &.
Touch gestures
The HP Prime calculator recognizes the following touch gestures:
• Tap—Point to an item on the screen, and then tap one finger to select the item.
• Tap and hold—Place your finger on the screen and hold it there for a moment.
• Scrolling—Place a finger on the screen and then drag it up, down, left, right, or diagonally to move up, down, sideways,
or diagonally on a page or image.
• One-finger slide—To scroll across the screen, lightly slide one finger across the screen in the direction you want to move.
To drag, in the Plot view of the Geometry app only, press and hold an object, and then drag the object to move it. To
select multiple cells in the Numeric view of the Spreadsheet, Statistics 1Var, and Statistics 2Var apps and in the List and
Matrix Editors, tap and hold a cell, and then drag your finger to select subsequent cells.
• Two-finger pinch zoom—Zoom out by placing two fingers apart on the screen and then moving your fingers together.
Zoom in by placing two fingers together on the screen and then moving your fingers apart. In the Spreadsheet app, this
gesture controls the width of columns and the height of rows.

Quick Start Guide 11

Touch gestures may not be supported in all apps, editors, and input forms, and their function might vary. Keep the following
guidelines in mind:
• In Plot view, if a 2-finger pinch zoom gesture is performed horizontally, the zoom is performed on the x-axis only. If a
2-finger pinch zoom is performed vertically, the zoom is performed on the y-axis only. If a 2-finger pinch zoom is
performed diagonally, a square zoom is performed (that is, the zoom is performed on both axes). In the Geometry app,
only the diagonal zoom is supported.
• In Numeric view, if a 2-finger pinch zoom is performed vertically, the zoom is performed on the currently selected row of
the table. A zoom in decreases the common difference in the x-values and a zoom out increases the common difference
in the x-values. If a 2-finger pinch zoom is performed horizontally, the column width changes.
Home Settings
Many calculator settings are user-configurable, such as angle measure, number
format, entry format, decimal mark, and so on. To view or change a setting, press
SH (Settings). The Home Settings window appears. This window is an input form,
that is, a window that provides one or more fields where you can enter data or select
an option. To change the content in a field, use the cursor keys to move to the field.
Then make your change and press E.
Alternatively, you can just tap the field or field label, and do one of the following:
• If the field allows you to enter data of your choice, tap the field, enter your data, and
tap .
• If the field allows you to choose an item from a menu, tap it twice and select the item you want.
• If the field is a toggle field (one that is either selected or not selected) tap once to select it and tap again to set the option
to its alternate value.
Note that there are four pages of home settings. Tap to display the second page. This page has settings for
font size, calculator name, output display format, menu item format, time, date, color theme, and shading color.
The third page of settings will primarily be of interest to the supervisors of
examinations, who need to ensure that the calculator is used appropriately by students
during an examination. Supervisors can disable certain functions of a student’s
calculator for a set period of time, with the disabling controlled by a password. For
example, to set the HP Prime calculator to basic exam mode, in the Configuration
field, select Basic Mode, and then tap .
In basic exam mode, the following settings are configured:
• The HP Prime calculator memory is hidden. The memory is restored when you exit
basic exam mode.
• The green light at the top of the calculator blinks.
To exit this mode, connect the calculator to either a computer or another HP Prime calculator via the included micro-USB
cable. For more information, see the HP Prime Graphing Calculator User Guide.
If your HP Prime calculator supports wireless connectivity, you will see a fourth page of home settings. On this page, a
drop-down box enables you to select an HP Wireless Classroom Network. A connection to an HP Wireless Classroom
Network requires the HP Wireless Kit (purchased separately). See the HP Connectivity Kit User Guide for more details.
In the Home view, you can tap the icons in the upper-right corner of the display to open the Quick Settings menu. The actions
you can take in this menu include the following:

12 Quick Start Guide

• Tap one of the angle icons to change the angle measure mode (radians or degrees).
• Tap the date/time to open a monthly calendar. You can navigate between months to find specific dates.
• If your HP Prime calculator supports wireless connectivity, tap the wireless icon to connect to the nearest HP Wireless
Classroom Network or to disconnect from the current HP Wireless Classroom Network.
To reset a field to its default value, move the cursor to that field and press \. To reset all fields to their default values,
press S& (Clear).
Note that the reset options are available on all screens that show settings (not just the Home Settings screen). If settings are
spread over more than one page, pressing S& (Clear) resets only the settings on the page that is currently displayed.
To return to Home view, press H. Note that the CAS has its own settings (see “CAS settings” on page 17).
Entering and editing expressions
Methods
The home settings enable you to choose one of three entry methods:
• Algebraic—Entry is on a single line (as in x^2)
• Textbook—Entry can be on several lines, as in a textbook (for example, x2)
• RPN (that is, Reverse Polish Notation)—Inputs precede operators. Thus 5E4+ yields 9.
The examples in this guide illustrate the textbook mode of entry. The order in which items are entered in textbook mode is
the same in algebraic mode. Only the appearance of the entry is different. However, the order of entry in RPN mode is
different. If you prefer to use RPN, see the user guide.
Example
To calculate π , enter SlS3E.
Notice that both √ and π are entered as a key-combination. They are shifted
characters.
By default all results are displayed with 12 digits of accuracy. You can also evaluate
expressions using the computer algebra system (CAS) directly, or by calling a CAS
command from Home view. This provides symbolic rather than numeric results (see “Computer algebra system (CAS)” on
page 16).
Press U twice to highlight the expression you entered. Note that two additional menu
items appear: and . The command is described on page 14.
The command is useful if a result is too tall to be seen in its entirety (for
example, a many-rowed matrix). If you highlight the result and tap , it is
displayed in textbook format in full-screen view. In full-screen view you can press U
and D (as well as Rand L) to bring hidden parts of the result into view. Tap to return to the previous view.

TIP: A quick way to enter many types of mathematical expressions is to press

c. A palette of templates appears (shown at the right). You choose a
template by tapping it and then adding the necessary parameters.

Quick Start Guide 13

Entering text
The common alphabetic characters (a–z and A–Z) can be entered from the keyboard. To enter an uppercase alphabetic
character, first press A and then the key that has that character printed on it in orange. Thus to print F, enter Af. To
enter a lowercase character, first press AS and then the key that has that character printed on it in orange. Thus to
print f, enter ASf. The keyboard can be locked so that all subsequent characters are uppercase without the use of
A. The keyboard can also be locked so that every subsequent alphabetic character is lowercase without the use of
AS. For more information, see the user guide.
Editing, deleting, and clearing
With an expression highlighted in history, tap . The expression is copied to the
entry line (as shown at the right). If you had meant to enter 3 , you can edit the
current expression by moving the cursor to the right of the π, pressing \, and then
typing 3.
To clear the entire entry line, press &. To execute a new calculation, press E.
The history section of Home view keeps a record of all your work. You can delete an item from history by selecting it and
pressing \. You can delete the entire history by pressing S&, but be careful. There is no undo for this action.
Last answer
Press S+ (Ans) to retrieve your last answer for use in another calculation. Ans
appears on the entry line. This is a shorthand for your last answer and it can be part of
a new expression. You could now enter other components of a calculation, such as
operators, numbers, variables, and so on, and create a new calculation.

TIP: You don’t always need to first select Ans before it can be part of a new
calculation. If you press any binary operator key to begin a new calculation, Ans is automatically added to the entry line
as the first component of the new calculation. For example, to multiply the last answer by 13, you could enter S+
x13E. But the first two keystrokes are unnecessary. All you need to enter is x13E.

Using variables
You can store a value in a variable (that is, assign a value to a variable). Then when you want to use that value in a calculation,
you can refer to it by the variable’s name. You can create your own variables in the Home or CAS views, or you can take
advantage of the built-in variables in the Home view (real variables A to Z and θ, complex variables Z0–Z9, and so on). CAS
variables can be used in calculations in Home view, and Home variables can be used in calculations in the CAS. There are also
built-in app variables and geometry variables. These can also be used in calculations. Consult the user guide for details.
To store your last answer in Home variable A:
AaE
Your stored value appears as shown to the right. If you then wanted to multiply your
stored value by 5, you could enter: Aax5E.
You can also create your own variables (both in Home view and in CAS view). For
example, entering 101 A m A eE assigns 101 to the variable
ME, and a subsequent calculation such as ME*3 will yield 303.
Variables can also be created by adopting the following syntax: [variable
name]:=[object]. For example, entering A 1 A oA 4A : S .55E assigns 55 to the
variable YOU. A subsequent calculation such as YOU+ME would yield 156.

14 Quick Start Guide

The HP Prime calculator keeps a list of all the variables you create. You can see this list by pressing a, tapping ,
and selecting User Variables. A list of user-defined variables appears. To use a listed variable in a current calculation, select
it from the list. To delete a listed variable, use the cursor keys to highlight it and then press \.
Copy and paste
Copy-and-paste functionality is available. The copy options vary depending on where you are in the calculator. For example,
if you are creating a matrix in the Matrix Editor, choosing copy (SV) simply copies the value of the highlighted cell to the
clipboard. You navigate to the target cell, press SM to display the clipboard, and choose the entry you want to paste.
If you are working in the Program Editor or Note Editor, pressing SV gives a
number of copy options. The illustration at the right shows the menu items you see
when you are in the Program Editor: mark where to begin a selection, mark where to
end the selection, select the current line, select everything, cut what is selected, and
copy what is selected.
In the Spreadsheet app, the paste functionality gives you a choice of what to paste: the copied value, the underlying formula,
the format of what was copied, or the formula and its associated formatting.
In the List Editor, you can select part of a list, an entire list, or a rectangular array of elements from multiple lists. This
selection can then be copied and pasted in either the Matrix Editor or the Numeric view of the Spreadsheet, Statistics 1Var,
or Statistics 2Var apps. Similarly, in the Matrix Editor, you can select one or more rows, one or more columns, a sub-matrix,
or the entire matrix. This selection can then be copied and pasted in either the List Editor or the Numeric view of the three
previously listed apps.
Generally, the copy-and-paste function allows you to transfer numbers and expressions throughout the calculator software.
Getting help
The HP Prime calculator has an extensive online help system that is context sensitive.
Generally, you can view context-sensitive help for each app, each app view, each
dedicated editor (List, Matrix, and so on), and each function or command. Press ^ to
open the online help to its current context. For example, if you open the Symbolic view
in the Function app and press ^, the help page to the right is displayed.

Many of the menu pages have the

menu key available. Tap this key to paste an
example into the current cursor location. For
example, tap and then tap the first
example in the list: SIN(6*X)*e^X. The function
is pasted into the command line in the
Symbolic view of the Function app. Press
E to paste this function into F1(X). Press
P to see the graph.
When a help page is displayed, you can tap
to display a hierarchial tree display of
the entire help system. Tap an entry and then tap to view the page. Tap + to expand any entry to view its subentries.
Tap and then press any key (or any shifted key combination) to display the help for that key.

Quick Start Guide 15

There is extensive help available for each command. The help provides the syntax of each command, a description of the
command, and an example. If you enter a command but need the syntax, press ^ to display its syntax. For example, if
you have entered int( ) in CAS view, pressing ^ displays help on the integral command.
Finally, if you have online help open, you can tap , tap , and then enter a keyword to search help for that
keyword.

Understanding the user interface

Menu items Check boxes

The bottom of the A check box enables you
display contains a select or deselect a
menu of up to six single option. To change
items. You choose an a current selection, tap it
item by tapping it once to select it, and tap
once with your again to switch the value
finger. to its alternate setting.
The menu items You can also use the
change depending cursor keys to scroll to
on what screen is the check box and tap
showing, or what .
item you last chose.

Choose boxes Input fields

A choose box To enter data into an
displays one item empty input field, tap the
from a menu of field and begin entering
items. To select an the data. What you enter
item other than the appears on the entry line.
one showing, tap If the input field already
the box and then tap has data in it, tapping it
the item. twice places the data on
Pressing + cycles the entry line with the
forward through the cursor at the end, ready
options. Pressing for you to make your
: cycles changes.
backward. When you have finished entering or changing the data, tap
You can also use the cursor keys to highlight a choose or press E. You can also tap to reject the
box, tap , use the cursor keys to select an item, addition or alteration you have made.
and then press E.

Computer algebra system (CAS)

The computer algebra system (CAS) enables you to perform symbolic calculations. By default, the CAS works in exact mode.
On the other hand, non-CAS calculations, such as those performed in Home view or by an app, are numerical calculations
and often approximations limited by the precision of the calculator (to 10 –12 in the case of the HP Prime calculator). For
1 2 13
example, ----- + ----- yields the approximate answer .619047619047 in Home view (with Standard numerical format), but ----------- in
3 7 21
the CAS.

16 Quick Start Guide

To open the CAS, press C. The CAS view that appears is similar to the Home view.
Previous CAS calculations are recorded in history and you can re-use an expression or
result in exactly the same way: by selecting it and tapping . Other general
operations are exactly the same. For example, pressing & clears the entry line, and
pressing S& clears the entire history.
The menu buttons in CAS view are as follows:
• —Assigns an object to a variable (see “CAS menu” on page 47).
• —Applies common simplification rules to reduce an expression to its
c
simplest form. For example, simplify(ea + LN(b*e )) yields
b * (e^a)* (e^c).
• and —Work as they do in Home view (see “Home view” on page 10).
The CAS offers many hundreds of functions, covering algebra, calculus, equation solving, polynomials, and more. You select
a function from the CAS menu, which is one of the Toolbox menus (see “Toolbox menus” on page 47).
CAS settings
Various settings allow you to configure how you would like the CAS to work. To display
the CAS Settings screen, where these settings can be changed, press SC. There
are two pages of settings. The settings are explained in detail in the user guide.
CAS calculations: Some examples
Suppose you want to find the quotient when x3 + 2x2 + 3x +4 is divided by –x + 2.
1. Press C to open the CAS.
2. Press b to display the Toolbox menus.
3. If the CAS menu is not open, tap .

NOTE: The CAS functions are grouped by category. When you select a
category, the functions in that category appear in a sub-menu. Some items on
that sub-menu may open a further sub-menu. In this example, we are dealing
with polynomial division. Thus, at the top level, the Polynomial category is
the one to open to find the appropriate CAS function. But division is also an
algebraic operation. Thus, you will find the quotient function on the Algebra
sub-menu (as shown at the right).

4. Select Polynomial > Algebra > Quotient.

The function quo() appears on the entry line.
You can also select a CAS function using the hot-key numbers assigned to each item
on the CAS menus. Notice in the illustration above that Polynomial is item 6 on the top level menu, Algebra is item
8 on the first sub-menu, and Quotient is item 1 on the next sub-menu. To quickly select Quotient once the CAS
menu is open, you could simply press 681 on the keyboard.
You can also select a CAS function directly from the Catlg menu.
5. Enter the dividend and the divisor, separated by a comma. (Note that the user guide
and online help give the required syntax for each CAS function. Note too that
variables must be entered in lowercase in the CAS.)
Axf3R+2Axl+3Ax+4omAx+2
6. Press E to see the result: –x2– 4x –11.

Quick Start Guide 17

7. Note that the input and result appear in history, where you can select them for
re-use. We will now re-use the function to determine the remainder of the division.
8. Tap the function and then tap . The expression is copied to the entry line.
9. Using the cursor keys and the \ key, change quo to rem.
10.Press E to see the result: 26
CAS menu
By default, a CAS function is presented on a CAS menu using its descriptive name, not
its command name. Thus the command name gbasis is presented as Groebner
Basis and proot is presented as Find Roots. If you prefer the CAS menus to show the command names instead,
deselect the Menu Display option on page 2 of the Home Settings screen (see “Home Settings” on page 12).
Using CAS in Home view
To use a CAS function in Home view, select the function from the CAS menu while you are entering your expression. The
CAS. prefix is added to your CAS function to remind you that this component of your expression will be evaluated by the
CAS. You can also copy an item from CAS history to an expression you are entering in Home view. Press M and select Get
from CAS. The CAS view opens. Tap the item you want, and it is copied directly to the cursor position in Home view. Likewise,
you can insert an item from Home view history into an expression you are entering in CAS view. Just press M and select
Get from Home. Home view opens. Tap the item you want and it is copied directly to the cursor position in CAS view.

2
HP apps and their views
HP apps
Many of the functions of the HP Prime calculator are provided in packages called HP apps. The HP Prime calculator comes
with 17 HP apps: 13 dedicated to mathematical topics or tasks, three specialized Solvers, and one function Explorer. You
launch an app by first pressing ! (which displays the Application Library screen) and tapping the icon of the app you want.
The apps are outlined in the following, and described in detail in chapters 3, 4, and 5 respectively.
Table 2-1 Primary apps
HP app name Purpose
Function Define functions and explore graphs and tables of values
Advanced Graphing Define and explore the graphs of symbolic open sentences in x and y
Graph 3D Explore plots of three-dimensional functions that define z in terms of x and y
Geometry Interact dynamically with geometric representations, change their magnitude, position, and orientation,
and observe the resultant changes in their numerical properties
Spreadsheet Create a spreadsheet using any of the calculator’s functions
Statistics 1Var Enter columns of data, conduct 1-variable statistical analyses, compute summary statistics, and explore
statistical plots
Statistics 2Var Enter columns of data, conduct 2-variable statistical analyses, compute summary statistics, and explore
statistical plots

18 Quick Start Guide

HP app name Purpose
Inference Compute and explore hypothesis tests and confidence intervals
Datastreamer Collect real-world data using sensors and the HP StreamSmart 410
Solve Solve an equation for one of its variables or solve a system of linear or non-linear equations
Parametric Define parametric equations and explore their graphs and tables of values
Polar Define polar equations and explore their graphs and tables of values
Sequence Define sequences and explore graphs and tables of values

The three specialized Solvers, outlined in the following table, are designed to help you solve problems of a specific type.
Table 2-2 HP Solver apps
Solver app name Purpose
Finance Solve many problems that would otherwise require a dedicated finance calculator
Linear Solver Solve 2 × 2 and 3 × 3 systems of linear equations
Triangle Solver Solve problems involving the lengths of sides, and the measures of angles, in triangles

Finally, the Explorer app is designed to help you explore the relationship between the values of the parameters in a function
and the shape of the graph of a function.

Data persistence
When you work with an app, you enter data of one sort or another, such as definitions of functions, window settings, and
preferences. The app records all this data and automatically saves it for you. If you leave the app and come back to it later,
all that data is still there. In fact, you can save an instance of the app with a new name and keep the original version for
another purpose. The new version, under the new name, contains all the data from the source app. (This is explained in
“Creating customized apps” on page 46.)
If you don’t want to retain the data stored with an app when you next open the app, you can reset the app to its default values
and settings. With the Application Library displayed (!), use the cursor keys to highlight the app you want to reset, and
then tap . Confirm your intention to reset the app by tapping or pressing E.
Data sharing
Using the supplied USB cable, you can send an app from one HP Prime calculator to another. It can be a built-in app or one
you’ve customized. In fact, you can share with other HP Prime users many of the objects you create using your HP Prime
calculator, such as programs, notes, lists, and matrices.
Note that the connectors on the ends of the USB cable are slightly different. The
micro-A connector has a rectangular end and the micro-B connector has a trapezoidal
end. To share objects with another HP Prime calculator, the micro-A connector must
be inserted into the USB port on the sending calculator, with the micro-B connector Micro-A: sender Micro-B: receiver
inserted into the USB port on the receiving calculator. In some cases,
calculator-to-calculator connectivity might not work; in these cases, use HP Connectivity Kit to transfer the app.

Quick Start Guide 19

App views
Most HP apps have the same structure, based on the symbolic, graphic, and numeric representations of mathematical
objects. These representations are called views, and they can be displayed by pressing @, P, and N respectively. Each
main view can be configured from an associated setup view. For example, pressing SP displays the Plot Setup view,
where you can specify the range of values to be plotted, axis intervals, cursor appearance, and so on.
Note that an app remains selected until you select another one. Thus, if you leave an app, do other work with the calculator,
and then press @, P, or N, the previous data shown in these views are redisplayed. This includes expressions, plots,
and values.
The six primary app views are illustrated below (using the Function app as an example).

Symbolic view: @ Symbolic Setup view: S@

This view is This view enables you to
primarily used to change certain
define the underlying settings for
mathematical the app, such as the
objects, such as angle measure and
expressions and number format. The
open sentences, settings made here will
that are override the
represented in the corresponding settings
on the Home Settings
Plot and Numeric window.
views. It is also
used to specify the
statistical analyses you want to undertake.

Plot view: P Plot Setup view: SP

Displays a graphical The first two pages of
representation of this view enable you to
the objects specify the range of
selected in values displayed in Plot
Symbolic view. The view and to set the
graphical appearance of Plot view.
representations The third page enables
include graphs of you to choose an image
for the background and
functions, to determine its
statistical plots, appearance in Plot view.
and confidence
intervals. Tap to
trace, swipe to scroll, or pinch to zoom in or out.

20 Quick Start Guide

Numeric view: N Numeric Setup view: SN
This view displays a This view enables you
table of evaluations. to set the appearance
It also enables you to of the Numeric view
enter specific values (such as the starting
to be evaluated. In number, increment, and
most apps, this view type of table: automatic
evaluates according or build-your-own).
to the definitions
specified in the The option
Symbolic view. It makes the settings in
serves a different Numeric view match
purpose in other those that currently
apps, such as the Statistics, Spreadsheet, and Geometry apply in the Plot view.
apps.

Graphing methods
The HP Prime calculator gives you the option of choosing one of three graphing methods. These methods determine the
fineness of the plot:
• Adaptive—This gives very accurate results and is used by default.
• Fixed-step segments—This method samples x-values, computes their corresponding y-values, and then plots and
connects the points.
• Fixed-step dots—This works like fixed-step segments method but does not connect the points.
You can change the current graphing method on page 2 of the Plot Setup view.
The following figures illustrate the visual differences between these methods for the function f(x)=9*sin(ex ).
Adaptive Fixed-step segments Fixed-step dots

Quick Start Guide 21

 3
Primary apps
This chapter briefly describes each primary app, summarizing its major views and the functionality available in each view.
These apps, the Solver apps, and the Explorer app are described in detail in the user guide.
All the primary variables entered in expressions and open sentences in these apps (X, Y, T, θ, N, and so on) must be entered
as uppercase characters. User-defined variables can be incorporated, and these can be in any case: upper, lower, or mixed.
Thus, if you have created a variable called Cost, you could define a function as X2+Cost. (For instructions on how to create
variables, see “Using variables” on page 14.)
Function, Advanced Graphing, Graph 3D, Parametric, Polar, and Sequence apps
The Function, Advanced Graphing, Graph 3D, Parametric, Polar, and Sequence apps are very similar and can be described
together. The Function app will be used as our sample app.
The Function app enables you to define functions in x, view their graphs, create evaluation tables, and find intersections,
roots, slopes, extrema, etc. To open the Function app, press ! and select Function.
Symbolic view In Symbolic view (@) you can enter up to ten symbolic definitions.
For the Function app, these are functions of x. An example is 2x2 – 3x + 4.
The functions with a check mark next to them will be plotted in Plot view and tabulated
in Numeric view. Each definition also has a colored box to the left of it. This indicates
the color of the function when it is plotted in Plot view. To change the color shown, tap
twice on the box (once to select it and again to open the color picker) and choose a
color.
The menu items are as follows:
• —Activates the entry line, where you can add a definition or edit the
selected definition
• —Clears or selects a function for graphing and table-building. (You can also tap a check box to deselect or select
it.)
• —Enters an X
• —Cancels the current addition or change
• —Accepts the current addition or change
• —Displays the selected function in textbook format in full-screen view (with vertical and horizontal scrolling
enabled)
• : Resolves references when one function is defined in terms of another

22 Quick Start Guide

Plot view Press P to display Plot view and see the graphs of the equations
selected in Symbolic view. Plot view allows you to trace a plot, zoom in or out on a plot,
view its symbolic definition, and find various critical values.
Tap to display (or hide) the full menu for this view. The menu items are as
follows:
• —Displays the Zoom menu, with options to zoom in or out. You can also
quickly square zoom in (and out) on the current cursor position by pressing +
(and :). You can also vertically, horizontally, or square zoom in or out using a
2-finger pinch zoom gesture.
• —Toggles the tracing cursor off and on. With the tracing cursor on, you can press R or L to move a point along
a plot. The coordinates of the point are displayed at the bottom of the screen. Press U or D to jump from one plot to
another.
• —Displays an input box, where you can specify an x-value and then select
or press E to move the tracer to that value. From Plot view, you can
also enter an x-value to open the input box. The value you entered
automatically populates the input line. Select or press E to confirm the
value and move the tracer to that value. This option provides a quick way to
evaluate a function for a particular x-value.
• —Allows you to use your finger to sketch a function in Plot view and then fit
a common function (linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, or sinusoidal) to the
result.
• —Opens the Function menu, with options to either find the following objects or to sketch a simple function:
- Sketch—Same as previous.
- Transform—Translate or dilate the graph of a sketched fit.
- Definition—View or edit the symbolic definition of the currently selected function (that is, the function that includes
the current trace point). If more than one function is plotted, press U or D to select another function.
- Root—Find the root of the function that is currently closest to the trace point.
- Intersection—Find the intersection of the function that is currently closest to the trace point with one other function.
- Slope—Find the slope of the function at the current trace point.
- Signed area—Find the signed area under a curve or between two curves.
- Extremum—Find an extremum for the function that is currently closest to the trace point.
- Tangent—Draw the tangent to the function that is currently closest to the trace point, through the current trace point.

Quick Start Guide 23

Plot Setup view Press SP to display the Plot Setup view. This view enables you
to configure the appearance of the graphs in Plot view. There are three pages of
options. The fields on the first page are as follows:
• X Rng—Horizontal graphing range (minium and maximum)
• Y Rng—Vertical graphing range (minium and maximum)
• X Tick—Horizontal tick mark spacing
• Y Tick—Vertical tick mark spacing
The menu items on the first page of this view are as follows:
• —Makes the selected value editable. (You can also just tap the field twice.)
• —Displays the second page of options
The second page of the Plot Setup view provides the following options:
• Axes—Shows or hides the axes
• Labels—Shows or hides the axis labels (that is, the values of X Rng and Y Rng at
the end of the axes)
• Grid Dots—Shows or hides grid dots
• Grid Lines—Shows or hides grid lines
• Cursor—Selects the standard, inverting, or blinking cursor
• Method—Lets you choose between adaptive, fixed-step segments, and fixed-step
dots methods of graphing (see “Graphing methods” on page 21)
The menu items in this view, which vary according to where your cursor is, are as follows:
• —Displays a menu of options. (Displayed only if the selected field offers a menu of options.)
• —Toggles the current setting on or off.
• —Returns you to the first page of the Plot Setup view.
The third page of Plot Setup view allows you to choose an image for the background and to configure its appearance in Plot
view. The first box is a drop-down menu that provides options to define how the image is displayed.
Next to that first box is the Opacity box. Enter an integer from 0 to 100 to indicate the opacity of the image, where 0 is
transparent and 100 is totally opaque.
Following these two fields, the images associated with the current app and all built-in images are displayed. Swipe to view
the available images, and then tap to select an image for the background.
After you select a display option, an opacity level, and an image, the selected image is visible in Plot view. For more
information, see the HP Prime Graphing Calculator User Guide.
Numeric view Press N to display the Numeric view. This view displays in tabular
form the values generated by the functions selected in Symbolic view. Choose any cell
in the independent variable column (labeled X in the example at the right), enter any
real value, and then press E or tap . All values are immediately
recalculated. The menu items are as follows:
• —Zooms in or out on a highlighted row of the table. Note that in Numeric
view, zooming changes the increment between consecutive x-values. Zooming in
decreases the increment; zooming out increases the increment. The values in the
row you zoom in or out on remain the same. You can also zoom in or out of a row
on the table using a vertical 2-finger pinch zoom gesture.

24 Quick Start Guide

• —Displays an editing options menu
- Select Row—Selects the row that contains the currently selected cell; the entire row can then be copied.
- Swap Ends—After a multi-cell selection is made, this option appears. It switches the values of the first and last cells
of the current selection.
- Include Headers—Selects the row and row headers that contain the currently selected cell; the entire selection can
then be copied.
- Selection—Turns selection mode on and off.
- Font size—Select small, medium, or large.
• —Moves the cursor to the specified value of the independent variable
• —Displays the definition of the selected column
Numeric Setup view Press SN to display the Numeric Setup view. This view
enables you to configure the appearance of the data displayed in Numeric view. The
fields are as follows:
• Num Start—The first value of X to show in the independent variable column of the
table
• Num Step—The common difference (that is, increment) between consecutive
x-values
• Num Zoom—The factor that will be used when zooming in or out on the table
• Num Type—Choose how you want the table to be generated:
- Automatic—Based on your Num Start and Num Step values, the app generates the x-values and the corresponding
function values.
- BuildYourOwn—You enter the x-values and the app generates the corresponding function values.
The menu items in this view are as follows:
• —Makes the selected value editable.
• —Sets Num Start and Num Step so that the table values match the settings in the Plot view. For example, Num
Start is made the same as the minimum of the X Rng values.
Advanced Graphing app
The Advanced Graphing app enables you to define and explore the graphs of symbolic open sentences in x and y. You can
plot conic sections (for example, x 2 + y2 = 64), two-variable inequalities (such as 2x – 3y ≤ 6), graphs that help you explore
number theory, and much more. To open the Advanced Graphing app, press ! and select Advanced Graphing. The app
opens in Symbolic view. The information below describes the major differences between the Advanced Graphing app and the
Function app (see “Function, Advanced Graphing, Graph 3D, Parametric, Polar, and Sequence apps” on page 22).
Symbolic view The Symbolic view of the Advanced Graphing app enables you to
specify up to ten open sentences, each expressed in terms of x, y, both, or neither.
Some examples are as follows:
• x2/3 – y2/5 = 1 • 2x – 3y ≤ 6

• y MOD x = 3 •

Quick Start Guide 25

The menu items are the same as in the Symbolic view of the Function app, except that here there is a button for Y as well as
for X. If you enter these variables manually, make sure that you enter them as uppercase characters: X and Y, not x and y.
Plot view Press P to display the Plot view and see the graphs of the open sentences selected in Symbolic view. The
hyperbola in the first illustration below is V1 in Symbolic view (see above), and the shaded area indicates where the inequality
defined in V2 evaluates to TRUE. The second illustration below shows V3, and the third shows V4. The graph of V4 has been
zoomed in to show some of its finer structure.

Definitions V1 and V2 Definition V3 Definition V4 (with axes hidden)

The options available by tapping are similar to those in the Function app. However, the option lets you
specify both the X and Y coordinates of the point you want to jump to. Further, the option opens a menu of trace
options.
Plot Setup view Press SP to display the Plot Setup view. This view enables you to configure the appearance of
graphs. This view offers the same options as the Plot Setup view of the Function app (see “Function, Advanced Graphing,
Graph 3D, Parametric, Polar, and Sequence apps” on page 22), except that there is no Method field.
Numeric view Press N to display the Numeric view. For various combinations of X
and Y, Numeric view shows whether the open sentence is satisfied. The illustration at
the right shows that the open sentence 2x – 3y ≤ 6 (defined as V2 in Symbolic view: see
above) is satisfied when X = 4.5 and Y = 1, but not when X = 4.4 and Y = 0.9. You can
enter your own values in the X and Y columns.
The menu items are the same as in the Function app, except that there is also
menu. Options on this menu parallel those in the Plot view.

26 Quick Start Guide

Graph 3D app
The Graph 3D app enables you to plot three-dimensional graphs by entering a function that defines z in terms of x and y.
After you have entered a definition, you can select the colors for your plot. In Plot setup view, you can also select a color
scheme and set the viewpoint for your plot. In Numeric view, you can view a table of the x-, y-, and z-values for your plot. To
open the Graph 3D app, press !, and then select Graph 3D. The app opens in Symbolic view.
Symbolic view The Symbolic view of the Graph 3D app allows you to specify up to ten
functions, each of which defines z in terms of x and y. You can also select the colors for
each plot. The menu items are the same as in the Symbolic view of the Advanced
Graphing app, with buttons for Y as well as for X. If you enter these variables manually,
be sure that you enter them as uppercase characters: that is, X and Y, not x and y.
For example, enter SIN(X) + COS(X) in FZ1(X,Y).

Plot view Press P to display the graph of each function that you defined in
Symbolic view. Tap to see the Plot view menu, which is similar to the Plot view
menu in the Function app.
Plot Setup view Press SP to display the Plot Setup view. Five pages of settings
are available. On the first page, you can select the ranges of the three variables and the
spacing used between the ticks on each axis.

On the second page, you can select the

number of steps used for the independent
variables (X and Y) and whether to display the
axis orientation in the top-left corner in Plot
view. You can also select a color scheme. For
example, to display a new color scheme,
select Checkerboard as the Surface option,
and then press P.
On the third page, you can select whether the
axes, the axis labels, and the box frame are
displayed and how they are displayed. On the fourth page, you can select the pose settings. On the fifth page, you can select
a background image.
Numeric view Press N to display the Numeric view. This view displays a table of X-,
Y-, and Z- values for each function that you defined in Symbolic view. You can either
scroll through the values or enter values for X and Y to reconfigure the table to those
values. The menu items are the same as in the Function app.

Quick Start Guide 27

Numeric Setup view Press SN to
display the Numeric Setup view. You can
specify the start, step, and zoom values for
the independent variables.
For example, enter π/4 as the value for both
Num X Step and Num Y Step. To display the
updated table, press N.
Parametric app
The Parametric app enables you to define
parametric equations and explore their graphs and tables of values. It is similar in structure and functionality to the Function
app. To open the Parametric app, press ! and select Parametric. The app opens in Symbolic view. The information below
describes the major differences between the Parametric app and the Function app (see “Function, Advanced Graphing, Graph
3D, Parametric, Polar, and Sequence apps” on page 22).
Symbolic view In Symbolic view (@) you
can specify up to ten sets of parametric
equations, each one defining x(t) and y(t) in
terms of t. For example, x = 4∙sin(t ) and y =
4∙cos(t ) form a set of parametric equations.
Note that the t must be entered as an
uppercase character (T) in this app.
The menu items are the same as in the
Symbolic view of the Function app, except
that here replaces (and
enters a T when tapped).
Plot View Press P to display the Plot view and see the graphs of the equations selected in Symbolic view. The
functionality here is the same as in the Function Plot view, except that there are no Fcn functions.
Plot Setup view Press SP to display the Plot Setup view. This view enables you
to configure the appearance of the parametric graphs.
This view is similar to the Plot Setup view of the Function app (see “Function, Advanced
Graphing, Graph 3D, Parametric, Polar, and Sequence apps” on page 22), except that it
also contains T Rng and T Step fields. These fields enable you to specify the range and
fineness of the t-values used to generate the (x,y) points for graphing.
Numeric view Press N to display Numeric view. This view is the same as you see
in the Function app.

28 Quick Start Guide

Polar app
The Polar app enables you to define polar equations and explore their graphs and
tables of values. It is similar in structure and functionality to the Function app. To open
the Polar app, press ! and select Polar. The app opens in Symbolic view. The
information below describes the major differences between the Polar app and the
Function app (see “Function, Advanced Graphing, Graph 3D, Parametric, Polar, and
Sequence apps” on page 22).
Symbolic view The Symbolic view of the Polar app enables you to specify up to ten
polar equations, each one defining r, which is the signed distance a point is from the
origin: (0,0), in terms of θ, the anti-clockwise angle a segment from the point to the
origin makes with the polar axis. An example is r = (3θ)/π.
The menu items are the same as in the Function Symbolic view, except that here replaces (and enters θ
when tapped).
Plot view Press P to display the Plot view and see the graphs of the equations
selected in the Symbolic view. The functionality here is the same as in the Function Plot
view, except that there are no Fcn functions.

Plot Setup view Press SP to display the Plot Setup view. This view enables you
to configure the appearance of the polar graphs. This view is similar to the Plot Setup
view of the Function app (see “Function, Advanced Graphing, Graph 3D, Parametric,
Polar, and Sequence apps” on page 22), except that it also contains θ Rng and θ Step
fields. These fields enable you to specify the range and fineness of the θ-values used
to generate the points for graphing.
Numeric view Press N to display Numeric view. This view is the same as you see
in the Function app.
Sequence app
The Sequence app enables you to define sequences. You can then view a stairstep or cobweb plot of a sequence, and explore
a table of sequence values. To open the Sequence app, press ! and select Sequence. The app opens in Symbolic view.
The information below describes the major differences between the Sequence app and the Function app (see “Function,
Advanced Graphing, Graph 3D, Parametric, Polar, and Sequence apps” on page 22).
Symbolic view The Symbolic view enables you to specify up to ten sequence
definitions in N. Each sequence is defined either explicitly in terms of N or recursively.
You must set a non-negative integer starting value of N for each sequence. This value
is entered to the right of the first sequence value. Note that N must be entered as an
uppercase character (N) in this app.
The menu items available depend on the equation you are specifying at the time:
• —Makes the selected definition editable
• —Clears or selects a sequence for graphing and table-building

Quick Start Guide 29

• , , , —Enters the corresponding text when tapped
• —Cancels the current addition or change
• —Accepts the current addition or change
• —Displays the selected sequence in textbook format in full-screen view (with vertical and horizontal scrolling
enabled)
• —Resolves references when one sequence is defined in terms of another
Plot view Press P to display the Plot
view and see the graphs of the sequences
selected in Symbolic view. The functionality
here is the same as in the Function Plot view,
except that there are no Fcn functions.
Plot Setup view Press SP to display
the Plot Setup view. This view enables you to
configure the appearance of the sequence
graphs.
This view offers the same options as the Plot
Setup view of the Function app (see “Function, Advanced Graphing, Graph 3D, Parametric, Polar, and Sequence apps” on
page 22), but with two extra fields:
• Seq Plot—Lets you choose between stairstep and cobweb plots
• N Rng—Lets you set the range of terms to plot for each sequence
Also, there is no Method field.
Numeric view Press N to display Numeric view. This view is the same as you see
in the Function app.
Geometry app

The Geometry app enables you to draw and explore geometric constructions. A
geometric construction can be composed of any number of geometric objects, such as
points, lines, polygons, curves, tangents, and so on. You can take measurements (such
as areas and distances), manipulate objects, and note how measurements change. To
open the Geometry app, press ! and select Geometry. The app opens in Plot view.
Plot view In Plot view you can directly draw objects on the screen using the
Commands menu (tap ). For example, to draw a circle, tap , tap
Curve, and then select Circle. Now, tap where you want the center of the circle to
be and press E. Next, tap a point that is to be on the circumference and press
E. A circle is drawn with a center at the location of your first tap, and with a radius
equal to the distance between your first and second tap.
Note that there are on-screen instructions at the bottom of the display to help you. For example, Select another
point means tap the location where you want the point on your circle to be. The current command and the pointer
coordinates are also displayed at the bottom of the screen. Always confirm your intention by pressing E after tapping
the screen, and press & when you have finished drawing an object. This deactivates the drawing tool.

30 Quick Start Guide

Each geometric object you create is given a name. This includes the points that make up a multi-point object. Thus if you
create a polygon, the polygon is given a name, and so too is each point at each vertex and each segment. If you create a circle,
the circle is given a name (C in the example above). So too is the center point (A) and the point on the circumference (B).
To select a point in Plot view, just tap it. If the object you tap is a point and there are multiple points available, a window listing
of all the points appears. Select the one you want, and then press E. If the bottom right of the screen shows the name
of the object, you have accurately selected it; otherwise a list of nearby objects is shown, indicating that the object has not
been selected.
If no object is selected, you can pan by dragging a finger across the screen: either up, down, left, or right. You can also use
the cursor keys to pan provided that the cursor is at the edge of the display. You can zoom by pinching, by pressing + or
:, or by tapping and choosing a zoom option from the zoom menu. The options are the same as you find in the
Plot view of many apps: Zoom In, Zoom Out, Zoom Undo, Zoom Box, Autoscale, Zoom Integer, and Zoom Decimal.
The categories in the Commands menu are as follows:
• Zoom—Contains zoom options, such as zooming in or out and so on.
• Point—Contains point options, such as point and midpoint and so on. For example, to add a point on a segment
equidistant from its two ends, select the segment, tap , tap Point, select Midpoint, and then press E.
• Line—Contains straight objects, such as a segment, ray, line, tangent, and so on.
For example, to add a tangent to a circle:
1. Tap , tap Point, select Point On, and then tap the circle where you want
the point of tangency to be.
2. Now, tap , tap Line, and then select Tangent.
3. Tap the circle, press E, tap the point of tangency, and press E. A
tangent is drawn to the circle through the point of tangency. Note that the point
and the tangent are given names (D and E respectively in the example on the
previous page).
• Polygon—Contains polygon options, such as a triangle, quadrilateral, and so on.
• Curve—Contains options for curved objects, such as a circles and conic sections, as well as the menu option Locus.
• Plot—Contains symbolic plot options to draw graphs, such as functions, polar plots, slope fields, and so on.
• Transform—Contains the geometric transformations, such as translation, rotation,
dilation, and so on. For example, to reflect an object, tap , tap Transform,
and then select Reflection. Tap the object (point or straight object) that is to be the
center, and then press E. Next, tap the object that is to be reflected, and then
press E. The selected object is reflected over the center. In the illustration at
the right, circle G is a reflection over point E of circle C.
• Cartesian—Contains options for displaying the coordinates of points, the equations
of lines and curves, and so on.
• Measure—Contains various measurements, such as distance, perimeter, slope, and
area.
• Tests—Contains various tests that you can perform on objects, such as Is_Collinear?, Is_Parallelogram?, and so on.

Quick Start Guide 31

All geometric objects created in Plot view (points, lines, circles, and so on) are recorded in Symbolic view as well. Similarly,
all calculations (point coordinates, equations of curves, measurements, tests, and so on) are recorded in Numeric view.
These calculations appear in Plot view docked at the top left. You can undock them and move them anywhere in Plot view.
You can redock them as well.
Symbolic view Every object, whether a point, segment, line, polygon, or curve, is given a name, and its definition is
displayed in Symbolic view (@). The name is the name for it you see in Plot view prefixed by “G”. Thus a point labeled B in
Plot view is given the name GB in Symbolic view.
The G-prefixed name is a variable that can be referenced in Numeric view (see below)
and in CAS calculations. Note from the illustration at the right that GG is the name of
the variable that represents the circle just reflected. If you are working in the CAS and
want to know what the area of that circle is, you could enter area(GG) and get the
result.
You can change the definition of an object by selecting it and tapping . The
object is modified accordingly in Plot view. For example, if you wanted to change the
point of reflection in the circle example above, just select point GE and change its
arguments. (The arguments are the coordinates of the point.)
You can also create an object in Symbolic view. Tap , and use the Commands menu to help define the object (for
example, point(4,6)) and press E. The object is created and can be seen in Plot view. The menu is the same
here as it is in Plot view, except that the Zoom, Cartesian, Measure, and Tests categories are not available. The commands
for creating geometric objects are available, but you must enter each command with its proper syntax. Select the command
and then press W to see its syntax. You can also rename and delete objects in Symbolic view, and also deselect them.
When you deselect an object, you hide it in Plot view.
Numeric view Numeric view (N) enables you to view, create, and edit calculations.
The results displayed are dynamic; if you manipulate an object in Plot view, any
calculations in Numeric view that refer to that object are automatically updated to
reflect the new properties of the manipulated object. To continue this example, if you
go to Numeric view and tap , you can calculate the area of the first circle you
created. The syntax is the same as in the CAS: area(GC). Press E to calculate
and display the area (as shown at the right). Select the measurement to make it visible
in Plot view. If you return to Plot view, you will see the new measurement in the
upper-left corner. If you change the size of the circle, the area value will update
dynamically.
The menu in the Numeric view contains the Cartesian, Measure, and Tests categories, similar to the Plot view.
By default, all calculations are labeled with their definitions. You can change the label of a calculation for readability without
changing the underlying definition. Tap Label, and an edit line appears. Enter your new label and tap . The new label
appears to the left of the value, in place of the definition; the underlying definition appears at the bottom of the display. Tap
to edit the definition.
Any calculation that you select by highlighting it and pressing is also displayed in Plot view. A highlighted calculation
can also be edited, deleted, and moved up and down the calculation list. (The latter option is useful if you have calculations
that are dependent on other calculations.)

32 Quick Start Guide

Plot Setup view This view enables you to customize the appearance of Plot view.
The Xmin, Ymin, and Pixel Size boxes allow you to set the dimensions of Plot view,
subject to the restriction that the pixels in Plot view are always square with respect to
Cartesian units. After you edit these three boxes, the Xmax and Ymax fields are
calculated automatically. The rest of the boxes in this view are common to most of the
apps, such as X Tick, Y Tick, and so on. There is also an additional check box, Scroll Text.
Select this box to automatically scroll the current command in Plot view. Clear this box
to manually scroll the command using touch gestures.
Spreadsheet app
The Spreadsheet app provides a grid of cells, where you can enter content (such as numbers, text, expressions, and so on)
and to perform certain operations on what you enter. To open the Spreadsheet app, press ! and select Spreadsheet. The
app opens in Numeric view. (There is no Plot or Symbolic view.)
Navigation, selection and gestures
You can move about a spreadsheet by using the cursor keys, by swiping, or by tapping and specifying the cell you
want to move to. You select a cell simply by moving to it. You can also select an entire column by tapping the column letter
and select an entire row by tapping the row number. You can even select the entire spreadsheet: just tap the unnumbered
cell at the top-left corner of the spreadsheet. (It has the HP logo in it.)
A block of cells can be selected by pressing down on a cell that will be a corner cell of the selection and, after a second,
dragging your finger to the diagonally opposite cell. You can also select a block of cells by moving to a corner cell, tapping
and using the cursor keys to move to the diagonally opposite cell. Tapping or another cell deselects the
block.
Entering content
A cell can contain any valid calculator object: a real number (3.14), a complex number (a + ib), an integer (#1Ah), a list ({1, 2}),
a matrix or vector([1, 2]), a string ("text"), a unit (2_m) or an expression (that is, a formula). Move to the cell you want to add
content to and start entering the content as you would in Home view. Press E when you have finished. You can also
enter content into a number of cells with a single entry. Just select the cells, enter the content (for example, =Row*3) and
press E.
What you enter on the entry line is evaluated as soon as you press E, with the result placed in the cell or cells. However,
if you want to retain the underlying formula, precede it with S.. For example, suppose that want to add cell A1 (which
contains 7) to cell B2 (which contains 12). Entering A1+ B2 E in, say, A4 yields 19, as does entering S.A1+
B2 in A5. However, if the value in A1 (or B2) changes, the value in A5 changes but not the value in A4. This is because the
expression (or formula) was retained in A5. To see if a cell contains just the value shown in it or also an underlying formula
that generates the value, move your cursor to the cell. The entry line shows a formula if there is one.
A single formula can add content to every cell in a column or row. For example, move to C (the heading cell for column C),
enter S.SIN(Row) and press E. Each cell in the column is populated with the sine of the cell’s row number. A
similar process enables you to populate every cell in a row with the same formula. You can also add a formula once and have
it apply to every cell in the spreadsheet. You do this by placing the formula in the cell at the top left (the cell with the HP logo
in it). To see how this works, suppose you want to generate a table of powers (squares, cubes, and so on) starting with the
squares:

Quick Start Guide 33

1. Tap the cell with the HP logo in it (at the top left corner). Alternatively, you can use
the cursor keys to move to that cell (just as you can to select a column or row
heading).
2. On the entry line type S. Row f n Col +1
Row and Col are built-in variables. They represent the row number and column
number, respectively, of the cell that has a formula containing those values.
3. Tap or Press E.
Each column gives the nth power of the row number starting with the squares. Thus
95 is 59,049.
Cell references and naming
You can refer to the value of a cell in formulas as if it were a variable. A cell is referenced by its column and row coordinates,
and references can be absolute or relative. An absolute reference is written as $C$R (where C is the column number and R
the row number). Thus $B$7 is an absolute reference. In a formula it will always refer to the data in cell B7 wherever that
formula, or a copy of it, is placed. On the other hand, B7 is a relative reference. It is based on the relative position of cells.
Thus a formula in, say, B8 that references B7 will reference C7 instead of B7 if it is copied to C8.
Ranges of cells can also be specified, as in C6:E12, as can entire columns (E:E) or entire rows ($3:$5). Note that the alphabetic
component of column names can be uppercase or lowercase except for columns g, l, m, and z. These must be in lowercase
if not preceded by $. Thus cell B1 can be referred to as B1,b1,$B$1 or $b$1 whereas M1 can only be referred to as m1,
$m$1, or $M$1. (G, L, M, and Z are names reserved for graphic objects, lists, matrices, and complex numbers.)
Cells, rows, and columns can be named. To name a cell, row, or column, go the cell, row header, or column header, enter a
name and tap . The name can then be used in a formula. Consider the following example:
1. Select cell A (that is, the header cell for column A).
2. Enter COST and tap .
3. Select cell B (that is, the header cell for column B).
4. Enter S.COST*0.33 and tap .
5. Enter some values in column A and observe the calculated results in column B.
Copy and paste
Select one or more cells and press SV. Move to the desired location and press
(M). You can choose to paste either the values, formulas, or formats (or the formula
and associated format).
Menu items
• —Activates the entry line, where you can enter or edit whatever is selected.
• —Names whatever is selected. This item appears only when you start entering content or after you tap .
• —Forces what you are about to enter to be evaluated by the CAS. For example, S.23t2 yields 11.5
normally, but if you precede the calculation by tapping , the result displayed is 23/2. You can revert to non-CAS
evaluation by tapping . These menu items appear only when you start entering content or after tapping .
• —Displays an input form, where you can specify the cell you want to jump to.
• —Sets the calculator into select mode so that you can easily select a block of cells using the cursor keys. It
changes to to enable you to deselect cells. (You can also press, hold, and drag to select a block of cells.)
• or —Sets the direction the cursor moves after content has been entered in a cell.

34 Quick Start Guide

• —Displays the contents of the selected cell in full-screen view (and in textbook format).
• —Displays a menu, where you can choose a column to sort (with a further option to sort in ascending or
descending order). It appears only after you have selected the cells to sort.
• —Displays a menu of formatting options for the selected cell, row, column,
or entire spreadsheet. The formatting options are as follows:
- Name—Displays an input form, where you can give a name to whatever is
selected
- Number Format—Auto, Standard, Fixed, Scientific, or Engineering
- Font Size—Auto or from 10 to 22 points
- Color—Color for the content (text, number, etc.) in the selected cells; the
gray-dotted option represents Auto
- Fill—Background color that fills the selected cells; the gray-dotted option
represents Auto
- Align —Horizontal alignment—Auto, Left, Center, Right
- Align —Vertical alignment—Auto, Top, Center, Bottom
- Column —Displays an input form, where you can specify the required width of the selected columns; only
available if you have selected the entire spreadsheet or one or more entire columns
- Row —Displays an input form, where you can specify the required height of the selected rows; only available if you
have selected the entire spreadsheet or one or more entire rows
- show “—Show quote marks around strings in the body of the spreadsheet—Auto, Yes, No
- Textbook—Display formulas in textbook format—Auto, Yes, No
- Caching—Turn this option on to speed up calculations in spreadsheets with many formulas; only available if you have
selected the entire spreadsheet
Statistics 1Var app
The Statistics 1Var app is designed for the study of univariate statistics. It provides tools for entering numeric data,
calculating 1-variable summary statistics, and plotting 1-variable statistical graphs. The app can exchange data with the
Statistics 2Var app and the Spreadsheet app (explained in the user guide). It can also receive data from the DataStreamer
app and pass summary statistics directly to the Inference app (where you can calculate confidence intervals and test
hypotheses). To open the Statistics 1 Var app, press ! and select Statistics 1Var. The app opens in Numeric view.
Numeric view The Numeric view provides a table with up to ten columns for data,
named D1 through D9 and D0. The menu items are as follows:
• —Activates the entry line, where you can add a value or change the selected
value.

Quick Start Guide 35

• —Opens an edition options menu.
- Insert
• Row—Inserts a new row in the current list. The new row contains 0 as its element.
- Delete
• Column—Deletes the contents of the current list. To delete a single element, select it and then press \.
- Select
• Row—Selects the current row. After it is selected, the row can be copied.
• Column—Selects the current list. After it is selected, the list can be copied.
• Box—Opens a dialog box where you can select a rectangular array defined by a starting location and a final
location. You can also tap and hold a cell to select it as the starting location, and then drag your finger to select the
rectangular array of elements. After it is selected, the array can be copied.
• Swap Ends—Switches the values of the first and last cells in the selected rectangular array of cells.
- Selection—Turns selection mode on and off. You can also tap and hold on a cell and then drag your finger to select
multiple cells.
- Swap
• Column—Switches the contents of two columns (or lists).
• —Moves the cursor to the specified element in the list. This is especially useful for long lists.
• —Sorts the current column; you can choose ascending or descending order.
• —Displays an input form, where you can enter a formula to generate a list
of values for a specified column. In the example at the right, 5 data points will be
placed in column D2. They will be generated by the expression X 2– F where X
comes from the set {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}. These are the values between 1 and 10 that differ
by 2. F is whatever value has been assigned to it elsewhere (such as in Home view).
If F happened to be 5, column D2 is populated with {–4, 4, 20, 44, 76}.
• —Provides summary statistics for the currently selected analyses defined
2
_in Symbolic view. The statistics provided are n, Min, Q1, Med, Q3, Max, ΣX, ΣX , Min,
x , sX, σX, serrX, and ssX.
Symbolic view Press @ to display the Symbolic view. You can define up to five
1-variable analyses (H1–H5), choosing for each analysis a data column and, optionally,
a frequency column. For the data column, you can enter either the name of a column
(D0–D9) or a mathematical expression involving the name of a column (for example,
D1*9.8). There is also a Plot field for each analysis. This is where you choose the
graphical representation most fitting for your purposes. The menu items, which change
according to the field selected, are as follows:
• —Activates the entry line so that you can add a value or change the
selected value
• —Displays a menu where you can select a plot type: histogram, box and whisker, normal probability, line, bar, or
pareto
• —Toggles between making an analysis active or inactive
• —Opens a list of available columns of data that you can select

36 Quick Start Guide

• —Displays the selected equation in textbook format and in full-screen view (with vertical and horizontal scrolling
enabled)
• —Resolves references when one equation is defined in terms of another
Plot view Press P to display the Plot view.
This view displays the selected 1-variable
statistical plots for each selected analysis. The
menu is similar to the Function Plot view, with
options for zooming and tracing (but without a
Go To or Fcn option).
Plot Setup view Press SP to display
the Plot Setup view. This view enables you to
configure the appearance of statistical plots.
This view offers the same options as the Plot
Setup view of the Function app (see “Function,
Advanced Graphing, Graph 3D, Parametric, Polar, and Sequence apps” on page 22), but with two extra fields:
• H Width—Specify the width of a histogram bar
• H Rng—Specify the range of data to be plotted
Also, there is no Method field.
Statistics 2Var app
The Statistics 2Var app is designed for the study of bivariate statistics. It provides tools
for entering numerical data, calculating 2-variable summary statistics, and creating
2-variable statistical plots. The app can exchange data with the Statistics 1Var app and
the Spreadsheet app (explained in the user guide). It can also receive data from the
DataStreamer app and pass summary statistics directly to the Inference app (where
you can calculate confidence intervals and test hypotheses). To open the Statistics 2Var
app, press ! and select Statistics 2Var. The app opens in Numeric view.
Numeric view The Numeric view provides a table with up to ten columns for data,
named C1 through C9 and C0. The menu items are the same as those in the Statistics
1Var Numeric view (see “Statistics 1Var app” on page 35).
Symbolic view Press @ to display the Symbolic view. You can define up to five
2-variable analyses, named S1–S5, by specifying two data columns (with an optional
frequency column for the dependent data column) and a fit type for each analysis. You
can also choose a mark type and a color for each point in a scatter plot. Finally, you can
choose a color for the fit plot. The menu items, which change according to the field
selected, are as follows:
• —Specify a data column, or, when a Fitn field is selected, to enter or edit a
fit equation. If you enter your own fit equation, the corresponding Typen field
automatically changes to User Defined.
• —Displays a menu where you can select a type of fit: linear, logarithmic, exponential, and so on; visible only
when a Typen field is selected.
• —Toggles between making an analysis active or inactive.
• —Opens a list of available columns of data that you can select; visible only when an Sn field is selected.

Quick Start Guide 37

• —Enters an X when tapped; visible only when a Fitn field is selected.
• —Specifies whether a graph of the type chosen will be plotted when you display Plot view. If this is not selected,
only the data points are plotted.
• —Displays the selection in textbook format in full-screen view; visible only when an Sn or Fitn field is selected.
• —Evaluates the variables in whatever is selected; visible only when an Sn or Fitn field is selected.
When specifying dependent and independent columns in the Sn fields, you can enter column names (for example, C1) or
mathematical expressions in terms of column names (for example, 2*C1).
Plot view Press P to display the Plot view. This view displays the scatter plot for
each selected analysis. Tap to display (or hide) the full menu for this view. The
menu items are as follows:
• : Displays the Zoom menu, with options to zoom in or out. You can also
press + to zoom in and : to zoom out on the trace. Use a 2-finger pinch
zoom gesture to perform a horizontal, vertical, or square zoom in or out.
• —Toggles the tracing cursor off and on. With the tracing cursor on, you
can press R or L to move from data point to data point. The values of each point
are displayed at the bottom of the screen. If a fit equation is displayed, you can
press U or D to trace the equation instead. Press R or L to move along the
equation. Values of the dependent variable, as predicted by the fit equation, are displayed at the bottom of the screen.
• —Takes the tracing cursor to the point you specify (or to the closest point).
• —Shows (or hides) the graph of the fit equation.
• —Displays the Functions menu, which contains the following options:
- Fit—Performs the same function as the Fit menu key
- Sketch—Allows you to sketch a fit using your finger
- Transform—Transform or dilate the graph of your fit
- Definition—View and edit the definition of your fit.
You can also see the fit equation by returning to Symbolic view and looking at the
corresponding Fitn field.
Plot Setup view Press SP to display page 1 of the Statistics 2Var Plot Setup
view. This view is similar to page 1 of the Statistics 1Var Plot Setup view, except that the H Width and H Rng fields have been
replaced with fields that enable you too choose different data-point marks for each scatter plot.
Page 2 of this view is identical to page 2 of the Function Plot Setup view (see “Function, Advanced Graphing, Graph 3D,
Parametric, Polar, and Sequence apps” on page 22) except for the addition of a Connect field. If this field is selected, the data
points are connected by straight segments. Note that these segments do not constitute a fit.

38 Quick Start Guide

Inference app
The Inference app provides tools for inferential statistics, enabling you to specify
confidence intervals and test hypotheses. Summary statistics from any column in the
Numeric view of the Statistics 1Var or Statistics 2Var app can be imported into it. To
open the Inference app, press ! and select Inference. The app opens in Symbolic
view.
Symbolic view This view provides fields where you can define a confidence interval
or hypothesis test. The fields are as follows:
• Method—Choose hypothesis test, confidence interval, chi-square tests, inference
for regression, or ANOVA
• Type—Choose a specific test or interval distribution based on the T-, Z-, and chi-square distributions
• Alt Hypoth—Choose one of three alternative hypotheses (for hypothesis tests only)
Numeric view Press N to display the Numeric view. This view contains fields
where you can enter sample statistics (for example, sample mean x and sample size
n), population parameters (for example, null hypothesis mean μ0 and standard
deviation σ), and the significance level α. The menu items are as follows:
• —Moves the cursor to the entry line where you can add or change a value
• —Enables you to import statistics (such as x , n, and so on) from any
column in the Statistics 1Var or Statistics 2Var app (or any app based on those
apps)
• —Displays the interval or test results
Tap to see the confidence interval or
hypothesis test results and to return
to the Numeric view.
Press P to display the Plot view. This view
graphically displays the test results or
confidence interval. In inference for
regression, the Plot view cycles through
different plot types for the linear t-test. The
Plot view is not available for all methods.
Tap to display the critical score
against the test score. Press D or U to
decrease or increase the α-level.
DataStreamer app (select models only)
The DataStreamer app enables you to collect real-world data from scientific sensors. It works with the HP StreamSmart 410
data streamer and many of the scientific sensors available from Fourier Systems. You could, for example, work with sensors
that detect temperature, pressure, distance, and the like. The app recognizes the sensors automatically and sets up data
streaming, displaying the incoming data graphically as a stream in real time. See the HP StreamSmart 410 User Guide for
complete details.

Quick Start Guide 39

First, connect the HP StreamSmart 410 to the HP Prime calculator and then connect between one and four sensors to the
HP StreamSmart. Open the DataStreamer app by pressing ! and selecting DataStreamer. The app searches for any
sensors that are connected to the calculator and, when it finds them, prompts you to start the data capture by tapping
.
The DataStreamer app starts in Plot view. This view graphically displays the data from
1 to 4 sensors as a live time graph called a data stream. Each line in the view
represents data from one sensor. The menu items are as follows:
• —Each sensor is allocated a channel. Tap this button to switch the focus to
another channel. You can also press 1, 2, 3, or 4 to switch focus to each of these
channels. The information displayed at the bottom of the screen is related to the
currently selected channel. In the example at the right, the Temperature channel is
selected. This channel is taking information from a temperature sensor in a beaker
and that information is showing that 128.303 seconds after the start of the
stream, the temperature in the beaker had reached 27.33°.
• or —Toggles the action of the cursor keys between pan (that is, scroll) and zoom. Zoom in or out
horizontally on the streams even while data is streaming, effectively speeding them up or slowing them down. Scroll
vertically to separate or center the streams.
• —Turns oscilloscope mode on and off.
• or —Starts or stops data streaming.
When you tap three more menu items appear:
• —Toggles tracing on and off for the current data stream. With tracing on, you can press L or R to move the
trace cursor along the currently selected channel. The values at the bottom of the screen change as the cursor moves.
• —Opens a menu where you can select the data you want to export to the Statistics 1Var or Statistics 2 Var apps.
• —Shows further options. You can, for example, place a mark at the current tracer position, swap the position of
the mark and the tracer, jump to a specific time along the current stream, add the current tracer point to your data set,
and display the Export to Statistics screen (see below).
On pressing further menu items appear:
• —Sets the left-most edge of the data you want to study. All data to the left is cropped.
• —Sets the right-most edge of the data you want to study. All data to the right is cropped.
• —Shows further options. You can, for example, choose to see only a subset of samples, and to add or delete
data. You can also use an button to display the Export to Statistics screen (see below).
On the Export to Statistics screen, select the Statistics app you want to use to
analyze the data (1Var or 2Var) and then select the channels whose statistics you want
to analyze (and time, if necessary). For each channel and the timestamp, you can
select the column in the app into which you want that data copied. When you tap
, the Numeric view of the selected Statistics app opens. You can now continue
your analysis of the captured data in that app.
The Statistics apps are described in “Statistics 1Var app” on page 35 and “Statistics
2Var app” on page 37.

40 Quick Start Guide

Solve app
The Solve app enables you to define up to ten equations, each with as many variables as you like. You can solve a single
equation for one of its variables, based on a seed value. You can also solve a system of equations (linear or non-linear), again
using seed values. To open the Solve app, press ! and select Solve. The app opens in Symbolic view.
Symbolic view The Symbolic view enables you to specify the equations, each with as
many variables as you like. The variables must all be uppercase.
The menu items are as follows:
• —Moves the cursor to the entry line where you can add a new equation or
change a selected equation
• —Selects or clears an equation for solving
• —Enters the equals sign
• —Displays the selected equation in textbook format in full-screen view
(with vertical and horizontal scrolling enabled)
• —Resolves references when one equation is defined in terms of another
Numeric view Press N to display the Numeric view. In the Solve app, the Numeric
view is not a table of evaluations (as it is in the Function app). Instead, it is an input form,
where you can enter values for the known variables. You then move the cursor to the
unknown variable and tap . You can enter a seed value for the unknown
variable in case there are multiple solutions. The menu items are as follows:
• —Moves the cursor to the entry line, where you can add or change a value
• —Supplies information about the nature of the solution found; it only
appears if you are solving one equation
• —Calculates the highlighted variable based on the values of the other
variables
Plot view You can plot only one equation at a time in the Solve app, so make sure that
only one equation is selected in Symbolic view. To display Plot view, press P. The left
side and the right side of the selected equation are plotted as separate graphs. The
variable that was highlighted in Numeric view is taken as the independent variable.
The Plot View menu items, and the Plot Setup view, are the same as in the Function app
(see “Function, Advanced Graphing, Graph 3D, Parametric, Polar, and Sequence apps”
on page 22). However, there is no Fcn functionality in the Solve app.

Quick Start Guide 41

 4
Solver apps
The HP Prime calculator has three Solver apps, each designed to solve problems of a specific type: a Finance app, a Linear
Solver app, and a Triangle Solver app. The Finance app solves many finance operations that would otherwise require a
dedicated finance calculator, the Linear Solver finds solutions to systems of linear equations, and the Triangle Solver finds
measures of angles and lengths of sides in problems involving triangles.
Finance app
The Finance app solves financial problems, including time-value-of-money (TVM), amortization (part of TVM), interest
conversion, date calculation, cash flow, depreciation, break even, percent change, bond yield and price, and Black-Scholes
calculations. To open the Finance app, press ! and select Finance. The app opens in Symbolic view.
Symbolic view The Symbolic view enables you to define the calculation method and
type. The fields are as follows:
• Method—Select TVM, Interest conversion, Date calculation, Cash flow,
Depreciation, Break-even, Percent change, Bond, or Black-Scholes.
- TVM—Allows you to solve TVM and amortization problems. You can perform
compound interest calculations and create amortization tables.
- Interest conversion—Provides a tool to convert between the nominal interest
rate (the rate that is compounded after a given period) and the effective interest
rate (the amount of interest effectively charged over a year).
- Date calculation—Calculates either the difference between two dates or the date that is a specified number of days
after a given date.
- Cash flow—Allows you to solve problems where cash flows occur over regular intervals. Problems with regular,
equal, or periodic cash flows are more easily solved using the TVM method.
- Depreciation—Allows you to calculate the loss in value of assets over a period of time.
- Break-even—Solves the equation Fixed + Quantity * Cost = Quantity * Sales + Profit. These problems involve a profit
when a quantity of items with a cost to manufacture and a fixed price to develop and market is sold at a given price.
- Percent change—Provides two percentage calculation tools: Markup / Margin and Total / Change.
- Bond—Allows you to calculate the price or yield of a bond.
- Black-Scholes—Provides a mathematical model useful for valuing European call and put options.
• Type—If you selected Depreciation, select Straight line, Sum-of-the-years digits, Declining balance, DB with SL
crossover, French straight line, or French amortization. If you selected Percent change, select Markup / Margin or
Total / Change.
Numeric view Press N to display the Numeric view. This view changes based on the method selected in Symbolic view.

42 Quick Start Guide

Example 1
You finance the purchase of a house with a
30-year loan at 6.5% annual interest. The cost
of the house is $180,000 and you make a
down payment of $30,000. Thus a net
$150,000 is financed. How much is the
required monthly payment? Assume
payments start at the end of the first period.
Tap Method and select TVM. Press N to
display the Numeric view. Enter the data as
shown in the first figure at the right.
Example 1 Solution
Solution
Highlight the PMT field (as it is the payment value we want to calculate). Tap . The payment value is calculated. As
shown in the second figure at the right, you need to make monthly payments of $948.10. (Negative values indicate
payments you make, while positive values indicate payments made to you.)
Example 2
To continue the previous example, suppose
you expect to sell the house after 10 years,
repaying the balance of the loan with a balloon
payment. What will be the amount of the
balloon payment?
To solve this problem you need to display the
amortization schedule for the loan. Tap
. The amortization schedule appears
as a table, with columns for the payment
group, the principal paid during the group, the
interest paid during the group, and the Example 2 Solution
balance remaining at the end of the group. The
and buttons perform the
same functions as in the Spreadsheet app. To return to the TVM page, tap .
Solution
To find the balloon payment due after 10 years of payments, scroll down to the row
where the payment group equals 10. The fourth column shows that a balance of
$127,164.47 is due after 10 years. That is the size of the required balloon payment.
Press P to see a graphical representation of the amortization table. Press > to step
though each payment group and see, at the bottom of the screen, the interest paid for
each group. Press = to see the principal paid for each group.

Quick Start Guide 43

Linear Solver app
The Linear Solver app solves 2×2 and 3×3 systems of linear equations. To open the
Linear Solver app, press ! and select Linear Solver.The Linear Solver app has two
pages: one for 2×2 systems and the other for 3×3 systems. By default, the 3×3 page is
displayed on opening.
Enter a value for the coefficient of each linear equation and note the solution given
below the equations. The solution shown constantly changes as you add or change the
coefficients of the equations.
The menu items are as follows:
• —Moves the cursor to the entry line, where you can add or change a value.
You can also highlight a field, enter a value, and press E. The cursor automatically moves to the next field, where
you can enter the next value and press E.
• —Displays the page for solving a system of 2 linear equations in 2 variables; changes to when active.
• —Displays the page for solving a system of 3 linear equations in 3 variables; changes to when active.
Example
Find the solution of the linear system 5x + 2y = 8 and 3x – y = 7.
Solution
Tap to display the 2x2 page and enter the coefficients and constants of both
equations, as shown in the figure at the right. (To enter a negative number, first press
m.)
As you enter values, the solution automatically updates. The solution you want appears
only when all coefficients and constants have been entered. In this example, the
solution is x = 2 and y = –1.
Triangle Solver app
This app calculates the lengths of sides and the sizes of angles in triangles. To open the Triangle Solver app, press ! and
select Triangle Solver.
The lengths of sides are represented by a, b, and c, and the angle opposite each side is
represented by A, B, and C respectively. Enter any 3 values, one of which must be a
length, and the app calculates the other values. The menu items are as follows:
• —Moves the cursor to the entry line where you can add or change a value.
(You can also just enter a value and press E.)
• or —Toggles the angle measure between degrees and radians.
Note that when is showing, the angle measure is degrees, and when
is showing, the angle measure is radians.
• —Toggles between input forms for general- and right-angle triangles (the
latter requiring one less input).
• —Calculates the remaining values.
Example
A triangle has sides of lengths 9 and 6. The angle opposite the side measuring 6 is 30°. Find the length of the third side.

44 Quick Start Guide

Solution
1. If necessary, tap to set the angle measure to degrees.
2. Enter a = 9, b =6, and B = 30.
3. Tap to see the result.
The length of the third side is shown as c =11.76… Angles A and C are also calculated.
Note that in this case, there is a second
solution, indicated by the presence of a new
menu item: . Tap to see the
second solution: c = 3.825… Press
again to see the earlier result.

Solution 1 Solution 2

5
Explorer app
The Explorer app is designed to explore the relationships between the parameters of a function and the shape of the graph
of the function. There are two modes of exploration: transform mode and equation mode. In transform mode, you
manipulate a graph and note the corresponding changes in its equation. In equation mode, you manipulate an equation and
note the corresponding changes in its graphical representation. To open the Explorer app, press ! and select Explorer.
The app opens in Symbolic view.
Symbolic view In Symbolic view, you select the function family that you want to
explore. You can select one of the following function families:
• Linear
• Quadratic
• Cubic
• Exponential
• Logarithmic
• Trigonometric

Quick Start Guide 45

Plot view By default, Plot view enters equation mode and displays an equation
below its graph. The equation and graph depend on the function family that you
selected in Symbolic view. Depending on the function family, Plot view might also
display the numerical values associated with the graph, such as the intercepts.
You can edit the equation in the input area and observe the changes in the graph. To
dilate the graph, perform a two-finger pinch zoom.
To enter transform mode, select . Typically, there are multiple types (or forms)
of an equation available for you to explore. To select a different form, tap and
then select an available type. To translate the graph vertically or horizontally, perform
a one-finger slide. To change attributes, such as slope (for a linear equation) or amplitude (for a trigonometric equation),
perform a two-finger pinch zoom. To combine terms or round long decimals, tap . After you manipulate the graph,
the equation updates to reflect the changes.

6
Creating customized apps
The apps that come with the HP Prime calculator are built in and cannot be deleted. They are always available (simply by
pressing !). However, you can create any number of customized instances of an app. You can also create an instance of
an app that is based on a previously customized app. Customized apps are opened from the Application Library in the same
way that you open a built-in app.
The advantage of creating a customized instance of an app is that you can continue to use the built-in app for some other
problem and return to the customized app at any time with all its data still in place.
Like built-in apps, customized apps can be sent to another HP Prime calculator. This is explained in “Data sharing” on
page 19.
Suppose you want to create a customized app that is based on the built-in Sequence app. The app will generate the Fibonacci
sequence.
1. Press ! and use the cursor keys to highlight the Sequence app. Don’t open the app.
2. Tap . This enables you to create a copy of the built-in app and save it under a new name. Any data already in the
built-in app is retained, and you can return to it later by opening the Sequence app.
3. In the Name field, enter a name for your new app, such as Fibonacci, and press E twice.
Your new app is added to the Application Library. Note that it has the same icon as the source app (Sequence) but with the
name you gave it: Fibonacci in this example. You are now ready to use this app just as you would the built-in Sequence app.

46 Quick Start Guide

 7
Toolbox menus
Comprehensive menus of functions, commands, and variables are grouped together in a set of five menus known as the
Toolbox menus. You press the Toolbox key (b) to display these menus, labeled Math, CAS, App, User, and Catlg.
In addition to the two usual techniques for selecting a menu item, that is tapping it, or using the cursor keys to highlight it
and then pressing E, you can also type part of the name of the item and the cursor will jump to it. You can also enter the
number of the item as it appears on the menu. (The latter technique is illustrated in “CAS calculations: Some examples” on
page 17.)
Math menu
This menu contains all the math functions available to you in Home view, arranged by category. Press b and, if necessary,
tap . Select the appropriate category and then choose the function you want. For example, suppose you want to
determine the complex conjugate of the complex number 6+4*i:
1. Press b (and tap if necessary).
2. Select Arithmetic from the main menu, Complex from the sub-menu, and
Conjugate from the sub-sub-menu.
The appropriate syntax, which is CONJ(), appears on the entry line ready for you
to specify the complex number.
3. Enter 6+4*i between the parentheses and press E. The result is 6–4*i.
Menu format
By default, a function is presented on a math menu using its descriptive name, not its
command name. Thus the command name CONCAT is presented as Concatenate
and MOD is presented as Modulus. If you prefer the math menus to show the command names instead, clear the Menu
Display option on page 2 of the Home Settings screen (see “Home Settings” on page 12). This also affects the format of the
CAS menus.

CAS menu
This menu contains the more common math functions available to you in the CAS,
arranged by category. (Other CAS functions are available from the Catlg menu.) Press
b and, if necessary, tap . Select the appropriate category and then choose
the function you want. For example, suppose you want to find the greatest common
divisor of 4656, 764, and 8794:
1. Press b (and tap if necessary).
2. Select Integer from the main menu and GCD from the sub-menu.
The function gcd() appears on the entry line, ready for you to specify the numbers
whose greatest common divisor you are trying to find.
3.Enter 4656, 764, 8794 between the parentheses and press E. The result is 2.

Quick Start Guide 47

App menu
This menu lists all the app functions available to you, arranged by app. Press b and,
if necessary, tap . Select the appropriate app and then choose the app function
you want. For example, suppose you want to find the slope of 2x2 – 9x when x = 2.
Rather than using the Function app, a quicker way is to do the following:
1. Press b (and tap if necessary).
2. Select Function from the main menu and SLOPE from the sub-menu.
The function SLOPE() appears on the entry line, ready for you to specify the
function and the x-value (separated by a comma). Note that if the current app is not
the Function app, what appears on the entry line is Function.SLOPE().
3. Enter 2*X2–9*X,2 and press E. The result is –1.

User menu
The User menu lists user-defined functions and programs. For example, using the
Define feature (Sc) you can define your own functions. The name you give to a
function will appear on the User menu. You could, for instance, create the function
SIN(X)+COS(Y) and name it SINCOS. SINCOS will then appear on the User menu. If
you choose it, SINCOS() will appear at the position of the cursor. You then enter the
arguments you specified when creating the function. Thus SINCOS(0.5,0.75) will
yield 1.2111… (if your angle measure setting is radians).
Programs you create using the calculator’s programming language are also listed on
the User menu if you have made them global (by using the EXPORT command). Just as
you can evaluate a user-defined function by first selecting it from the User menu, you can also run a program by selecting it
from the User menu.

Catalog Menu (Catlg)

The Toolbox key also gives you access to a menu of every command and function
available on the HP Prime calculator. Tap and tap the command or function
you want. It is copied to the location of the cursor.
There are over 400 commands and functions on this menu. You may find it easier to
select an item by entering the first few letters of its name. The menu automatically
scrolls to the first command whose name matches the letters you entered. For
example, suppose you want to find the number of positive integers not greater than
and coprime to 200. Euler’s totient function is a quick way of finding that number, and
the function is available on the Catlg menu.
1. Press b (and tap if necessary).
2. Enter eu. Notice that the menu immediately scrolls to euler.
3. Select euler, enter 200 between the parentheses, and press E. The result is 80.

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 8
Catalogs and Editors
The HP Prime calculator provides a number of handy catalogs where you can store the lists, matrices, programs, and notes
you create. Each of these catalogs has an editor to help you quickly create and modify a list, matrix, program, or note. Like
apps, the items you add to a catalog can be sent to another HP Prime calculator using the supplied USB cable (see “Data
sharing” on page 19).
List Catalog and Editor
You can create lists of real numbers, complex numbers, expressions, matrices, and
other lists. You can also perform certain mathematical operations on lists. Press S 7
to display the List Catalog. Up to ten lists can be stored in the catalog, each named
L1–L9 or L0. The menu items in the List Catalog are as follows:
• —Opens the selected list so that you can add or change elements. You can
also just tap the list name.
• —Deletes the contents of a selected list.
• —If present, sends a highlighted list to another HP Prime calculator.
When you select a list, the List Editor opens. This is where you add elements to, or
change elements in, a list. When you first open a list, it is blank. To enter an element,
start keying it. The menu items in the List Editor are as follows:
• —Copies the selected element to the entry line, where it can be edited. This
item is only visible when an element in the list is selected.
• —Opens an editing options menu. For more information on this menu, see
“Matrix Catalog and Editor” on page 50.
• —Move the cursor to the specified element in the list. This option is
especially useful for very large lists.
• or —Sets how the cursor moves after you press E. The options are Down, Right, and None.
Enter the first element in your list and press E or tap . The cursor jumps to
the next row. Repeat until you have added all the elements you want to add. When you
have completed the list, press S 7 to return to the List Catalog.
In programs and in Home view, you can refer to a list by its name (L1, L2, and so on).
For example, suppose L2 is composed of {5,6,1,5,8}. In Home view, you could enter
5*L2. The result displayed is {25,30,5,25,40}. Note that each item in the new list
is five times its corresponding item in L2. Note too that a list is represented by a pair of
braces {}, with each item separated by a comma. If you want to store your result in, say,
list L6, just tap , enter L6, and press E. If you then open the List Catalog,
you would find that L6 has been populated.
You can create a list in Home view by pressing S8 and entering each element, separated by a comma.
Numerous list-related functions are available on the Math menu (see “Math menu” on page 47).

Quick Start Guide 49

Matrix Catalog and Editor
You can create both matrices and vectors. Press S 4 to display the Matrix Catalog.
Up to ten matrices or vectors can be stored in the catalog, each named M1–M9 or M0.
The menu items in the Matrix Catalog are as follows:
• —Opens the selected matrix or vector so that you can add or change
elements. You can also tap the matrix name.
• —Deletes the contents of the selected matrix or vector.
• —Changes the selected matrix into a vector.
• —If present, sends the selected matrix or vector to another HP Prime
calculator.
When you select a matrix, the Matrix Editor opens. The menu items in the Matrix Editor
are as follows:
• —Copies the selected element to the entry line, where it can be edited. This
item is visible only when an element in the matrix or vector is selected.
• —Opens an editing options menu. This menu contains options similar to
those in the List Editor More menu, but with addition options used only for editing
matrices. The options are as follows.
- Insert
• Row—Inserts a new row above the current row in the matrix. The new row
contains zeroes.
• Column—Inserts a new column to the left of the current column in the matrix. The new column contains zeroes.
- Delete
• Row—Deletes the current row of the matrix.
• Column—Deletes the current column of the matrix.
• All—Deletes the contents of the matrix.
- Select
• Row—Selects the current row. After it is selected, the row can be copied.
• Column—Selects the current column. After it is selected, the column can be copied.
• Box—Opens a dialog box to select a rectangular array defined by a starting location and a final location. You can
also tap and hold a cell to select it as the starting location, and then drag your finger to select a rectangular array of
elements. After it is selected, the rectangular array can be copied.
• Swap Ends—Switches the values of the first and last cells in the selected array of cells.
- Selection—Turns selection mode on and off. You can also tap and hold a cell and then drag your finger to select
multiple cells.
- Swap
• Row—Switches the values of the selected rows.
• Column—Switches the values of the selected columns.
• —Moves the cursor to the specified element in the matrix. This option is especially useful for very large matrices.
• or —Sets how the cursor moves after you press E. The options are Down, Right, and None.

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You don’t have to define the dimensions of a matrix beforehand. Just start entering
elements. You can enter values row by row, or column by column.
In programs and in Home view, you can refer to a matrix or vector by its name (M1, M2,
and so on). For example, suppose M6 is composed of [[8,0,5],[5,1,6]] and M7 is
composed of [[1,2,3],[4,5,6]]. In Home view, you could enter M6+M7. The result
displayed is [[9,2,8],[9,6,12]].
You can create a matrix or vector in Home view by pressing S 5 and entering each
element. Use the cursor keys to move from slot to slot in the matrix template that
appears.
Numerous matrix-related functions are available on the Math menu (see “Math menu” on page 47).
Program Catalog and Editor
The HP Prime has a powerful programming language that can be put to many uses. Programs are created and modified in
an editor and stored in a catalog. Press S1 to display the Program Catalog. You can edit, run, and debug a program,
and send it to another HP Prime calculator. You can also rename or remove programs.
When there are existing programs, the menu items in the Program Catalog are as follows:
• —Opens the Program Editor with the selected program shown for you to
edit
• —Opens an input box, where you can name a new program
• —Opens a sub-menu with the following options:
- Save—Creates a copy of a program with a new name
- Rename—Renames an existing program
- Sort—Sorts the programs (either chronologically or alphabetically)
- Delete—Deletes the selected program
- Clear—Deletes all programs in the Program Catalog
• —Sends the selected program to another HP Prime calculator
• —Debugs the selected program
• —Runs the selected program
You can enter your program letter-by-letter if you know the command names, or use
one of the menus available when the Program Editor is open:
• —Opens the commands menu
• —Opens a menu of common branch and loop structures
Note that the programming commands are also available from the Catlg menu (see
“Catalog Menu (Catlg)” on page 48).
The button enables you to check your syntax at any time.
After you have finished your program, return to the Program Catalog by pressing
S1. It is listed in the catalog. Tap to run your program. (In Home view,
you can enter your program’s name and press E to run it.)

Quick Start Guide 51

A simple program is illustrated at the right. When it runs, the value of N is set to 1 and
the program continues until it becomes 10. The value is displayed on screen in a
message box. The value is preceded by the string Counting:. If you tap or
press E, the value of N is incremented by 1. The incremented value is displayed on
the screen in another message box. You continue tapping or pressing E
until N is greater than 10, at which time the program stops running.
See the user guide for more information about programming the HP Prime calculator.
Note Catalog and Editor
The HP Prime calculator has a note-recording feature that enables you to build a library
of notes. Press S0 to display the Note Catalog.
The following menu items appear (some only if at least one note has already been
created):
• —Opens the Note Editor, where you can edit the selected note
• —Opens an input form, where you can give a name to a new note
• —Opens a sub-menu with the following options:
- Save—Creates a copy of a note with a new name
- Rename—Renames the selected note
- Sort—Sorts the notes (either chronologically or alphabetically)
- Delete—Deletes the selected note
- Clear—Deletes all notes in the Note Catalog
• —Sends the highlighted note to another HP Prime calculator
Tap and enter a name for your new note. Tap twice. The Note Editor
opens so that you can enter your note.
The menu items in the Note Editor are as follows:
• —Provides options for setting the font size, foreground color, background
color, and paragraph alignment.
• —Provides bold, italic, underline, full caps, superscript and subscript
options.
• —Cycles through three styles of bullets (placing the chosen bullet against
whatever paragraph has the cursor in it). There is also an option to remove a bullet.

52 Quick Start Guide