The Ultimate List of TI BA II Plus Calculator Tips for the CFA Exams

Great tips Sophie! I especially like the [2nd] “K” function. Thanks for the great work. I am a little concerned with the 1-V setting though. Here is why. When computing say, portfolio standard deviation of a two asset portfolio, I’ll need the covariance or correlation of returns. I can’t get that with the 1-V settings by definition. It returns an error. But with the LN function, I get the same results for the mean and standard deviations and multiplying the value of “r” by the product of the standard deviations gives me my covariance – and I’ll be sorted if that was a stand-alone question. Also, I can just use “r” to compute the portfolio return.
Kudos to the entire team at 300hours.com. Keep up the good work. Great value.

Hi @Jtk, glad you found it useful.

On your comment about 1-V setting, that means it’s for ONE variable statistics analysis only. In this case, X is your data point, Y is the frequency. That’s why you get an error when you compute for 2 variable statistic. In that case you should use LN function as you mentioned. “1-V” setting is for straightforward 1 variable analysis only.

If you use your calculator for complex 2 variable statistic analysis, it’s best to leave it as LN function, just in case you forget to switch during the exam. One variable settings are usually straightforward anyway.

Me too! Thanks @Sophie‌ – I like the shortcuts on the stats functions. used to do it manually on the calculator!

Thanks for sharing this @CosmicDylan‌! It’ll be useful for the community 🙂

Thanks @rishabhc2000. There was a problem in the CFAI material to calculate skewness and kurtosis. I hope it was given to understand the respective concepts.

@sophie I just had a quik questio about the stat function. What is the difference between the ‘LN’ and ‘Lin’ modes. I was messing around with it and they are giving different correlations etc. Which one is the right one to be using if we are trying to find correlation and covariance etc? Thanks

Hi Sophie, Is there any way to use stat functions in calculating skewness and kurtosis? I find it tedious to calculate cubes and ^4’s.

“[3] [+|-] [ENTER] [↓] [↓]”

Is there any reason that there is a +/- after the 3? The data set above is all positive and the answers are based on positive 3.

Thanks!

We’ve got a 15 min video on Youtube if you want a visual for some of these functions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UU8DNfSlObTQsdz0rOWB2-0A&v=Ehchb6Zvag0

@Dr_Pain28 – for the purposes of CFA, the only 2 that matter are 1-V for ONE variable statistics (like the simple example in the post above), and LIN for TWO variable statistics.

To explain the 4 choices of two variable statistics settings:

1. LIN = standard linear regression ==>Y = a+bX
2. Ln = log regression ==> Y = a + ln(x)
3. EXP = exponential regression ==>Y = ab^x
4. PWR = power regression ==> Y = aX^b

Ln, EXP, and PWR regressions are beyond the CFA syllabus. They can of course find the correlation and covariance of a set of data too, but the format is incorrect (they are non-linear).

Hope this helps!

Thank you very much.. 🙂

Dear Sophie,

I would just like to let you know that you have a minor error in the instructions. For the stats section, there should not be a [+|/] key if your sample mean and standard deviation are to be correct. They assume a positive 3 instead of a negative 3. For anyone else that was confused! Thats all, thank you very much for the tips! Extremely useful!

AWESOME. Thanks @Sophie‌!

Thanks so much for this post Sophie.

Sophie,

I’m trying to get a head start on this. I’ve even managed to get the Scheweser notes. I do have one issue though. I am unable to find a place where I can purchase the TI BA II Plus calculator 🙁 ! You’d think the recommended CFA calculator would be held in stationary shops and other outlets here in Australia. I am also leaving the country in about 10 days and should be in the US by then so it’s a huge deal but I was wondering if you had any recommendations on how to approach the Schewser notes with no calculator for a couple of weeks or so. Do I just read through the notes and summarise the ideas like you recommended on another post?

Loving your work btw! A network contact of mine (the director of corporate relationships at my uni) said that he’s placed a few candidates in Valuation roles at EY and Deloitte, firms we have a lot of traction with. Even though my main focus will be IBD at an Ibank, I’m trying to keep my options open just in case, being international and everything. So I’m very glad I came across these site and your posts! Trying to find an effective way to cover as much of the material as I can before August and then take it slow and steady because I’ll be dealing with actual MS Finance work + networking and then keep the last month for papers like you recommended. Any other suggestions?

Thanks!
Kev

Hey guys, does anyone know how to extend the storage memory? In other words, STO only goes from 0 to 9, but in some problems, I would like to store more data. Is there anyway to do this? Thanks.

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Thank you so much 🙂

These are helpful! I didn’t know that Format – 9 was floating, or what the Mystery K function did.

It is unlikely that you are expected to calculate skewness and kurtosis, as the LOS requires you to, “explain measures of sample skewness and kurtosis” rather than calculate them

krishTa said:

Hi Sophie, Is there any way to use stat functions in calculating skewness and kurtosis? I find it tedious to calculate cubes and ^4’s.