get popupmenu ("Zeroth,^S 1st,^T 2nd,^U 3rd,^V 4th,^W 5th,^X 6th,^Y 7th,^Z 8th,^[ 9th,^\ Nth,",0, the mouseH, the mouseV )
put it-1 into temp
if it is empty then exit to HyperCard
-- This finds out what the person just selected
put 0 into degree
repeat with q = 1 to 10
if temp is q then put q into degree
end repeat
if degree = 10 then
ask "What degree polynomial do you want?"
if it is empty then exit to HyperCard
put it into degree
end if
-- Find out what coefficient the person wants for that term
ask "Enter the numerical coefficient for this term." with "1"
if it is "Cancel" then exit to HyperCard
put it into coefficient
if coefficient >= 0 then put "+ " before coefficient
else put space before char 2 of coefficient
put coefficient & "*x^" & degree & space after fld "function"
end mouseDown
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Polynomial Functions
A*x^n + B*x^(n-1) + C*x^(n-2) + ... + D
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Polynomial Function Editor
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You can use this card to edit and write the polynomial equation you wish to be graphed. Use the "Function Editor" button or enter your equation directly below. Use the
"Graph Equation" button to actually graph your work.
If you'd like to read more, click this button -->
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The word polynomial is defined in Webster's dictionary as an algebraic expression with two or more terms. If you are a fan of etymology then you will be able to distinguish two parts of the word. The first is "poly" and the second is "nomial". The suffix "poly" has the meaning of "many" and the root word "nomial" has the meaning of "name".
An appropriate mathematical definition for polynomial is a group of ordered terms ordered from highest to lowest degree. A few examples of polynomials are:
The numbers above the x's are the exponents. The numbers in front of the x's are called coefficients. For example the first polynomial has two terms. Its first term has 5 as a coeficient and is raised to the 1 power. The third polynomial has five terms. Its first term is raised to the 6th power and it's fourth term has a coefficient of 5/8.
In order for this stack to graph your polynomial you must write it in a standardized form. If you understand HyperTalk you will be able to do this already.
Here are the "rules": ΓÇó Multiplication is shown by using an asterisk *
ΓÇó Powers are shown with the circumflex ^
So the first polynomial written in standard form would look like 5*x + 7. The second polynomial would be written like x^2 + 2*x - 1. The third polynomial would look like x^6 + 4*x^3 - x^2 + (5/8)*x - 3.
You can enter your polynomial in two ways. You can write it directly into standard form or you could use the Term Editor button. By holding the Term Editor button down you can select which term you want to work on by selecting its number. If you have a term with a power greater than 9 then use the "Nth" menu. After you have finished writing your polynomial use the Graph Equation button to go to the graphing card. If you would like to start over with your equation then you could use the "Erase Edit Box" button.
