I am really unfamiliar with the keys.

Press the S<->D button located just above the DEL button.

The EL-501 doesn't display fractions. Some of Sharp's other calculators do, but not this one.

Yes, you do have the division key. It is the division key. However, if you want the fraction to remain a fraction, enter the numerator, press the division key, type in the denominator then Press [MATH] [1:>Frac] then press ENTER. The fraction that will be displayed will be the reduced form.

The calculator has a key marked with two squares on top of one another and with a fraction bar between them. The key is to the left, below the ABS key..
The shifted function of that key is the mixed fraction [a b/c]. I am not convinced you need a specific key to enter a mixed fraction: you can just type in the integer part (whole part) then + then use the fraction key (the one with the two squares.)

There is no "fraction" button on the TI-83 plus. You will have to press the divide key (2 buttons below the CLEAR key) and then use the parentheses (immediately to the left of the divide key) to tell the calculator the correct order of operations. For example, "1/3x+9" means ".333333x+9", but "1/(3x)+9" means the "x" goes on the bottom of the fraction.

Hi eamon at hom,

Doing fraction on the Sharp El 531W really isn't that bad. I had to use pictures because, the symbols will not transfer over to your posting for me to show you. When you select the [ON/C] this clears the calculator of previous calculations and, data so that they won't interfere with your new calculations.

Let take the first example where a mix number is being added to a improper fraction. Because I used the [a^b/c] key this makes the calculator display the answer in a mixed fraction format or, a proper fraction format. If I press the [a^b/c] key again after the answer the format will change to a decimal format. The fractional formats are displayed in a mixed number, improper or, proper fraction formats. A improper fraction is really a proper fraction number with the top number (numerator) is greater than or equal to the bottom number (denominator).

[ON/C] [3] [a^b/c] [1] [ [a^b/c] [2] [+] [4] [a^b/c] [3] [=] mixed number results. Now let's do the same calculation as a improper or, proper fraction format.
[ON/C] [7] [a^b/c] [2] [+] [2] [a^b/c] [3] [=] still a mixed number result. Even though I enter the fractions in a improper and, proper fraction formats the calculator will still display in a mixed number format. This is because the calculator first displays as a mixed number if it can. If it can't then it will display the value as a proper fraction and, never as a improper fraction. To convert from a mixed number to a improper fraction format if the calculator did not convert it to a proper fraction, I have to use [2ndF] [d/c] keys on the command line.



This show a little more complex raised power use of the [a^b/c] key.

This shows the [2ndf] [x^-1] keys being used to calculate fractions.


When I first saw this question being asked it, was answered with just use the / command. Which that isn't really a good answer because, in math we like to use elimination. If you use the / command eventually the numbers are going to be rounded off and, your not going to be able to eliminate anything. If you have any further question on how to preform fractions with this calculator be sure to post your comment and, I'll be glad to help.

First put the calculator in degree mode.
To convert from fraction to a decimal number first enter your fraction or, mixed number. I'll convert a mixed number to a fraction first since, I don't have a key for the symbol that shows that a number is a fraction on my keyboard. Example: [3][A b/c][1][A b/c][2][A b/cd/e][ENTER]
3/2 should be entered at the home screen. While at the Home screen enter, [2nd][FD][ENTER]
1.5 should now be displayed at the Home screen.
As you can see it is really just using the [A b/c] key to enter in your fraction and, [FD] key to do the converting. The [A_b/cd/e] key isn't necessary because, mixed numbers will convert to decimal numbers just like fractions do. I just don't have the key to show a fraction symbol that the calculator uses. So to show that symbol, I used the / symbol with the fraction number.

A fraction is basically a division of two integer numbers. To enter a fraction you type the numerator, press the division key, enter the denominator and press [ENTER]. For a mixed number (integer + fraction) enter the Integral part, press [+] and then enter the fraction part as described above.

However what you really want to know is how to enter a fraction and KEEP it in a fraction format.
To do that, you enter the fraction as described above, then you press the [MATH] key and select [1:>Frac] then [ENTER}.
The fraction will keep its nature but what will be displayed is the irreducible equivalent.

Does what I said sound too difficult? Well, Cheer up. TI has issued a major upgrade to the OS of the TI84PLUS/TI84PLUS SE. Download the OS version 2.53 MP and install it on your calculator. The easiest way to do so is to open TIConnect on your computer, connect the calculator to the computer and click the UPDATES button in the TI Connect main window.

Yeah, there isn't a fraction button on an 84. You have to enter it manually as 4/9 or if simplifying a decimal, use the Ans>Frac under the MATH menu

press the (a b/c) button