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- Using and installing the program Vector
-
- Purpose of the Program:
- Trigonometry and vectors can be difficult subjects because of
- the innate fear many students have of mathematics. This program
- is designed to help the student in the understanding of both
- trigonometry and vectors in a non-threatening manner which is
- conducive to understanding. A lab which can be used with the
- program is included with the registered copy.
-
- Installing Vector on your hard drive:
- To install vector on your hard drive type start windows and
- click on File in the upper left hand corner of Program Manager.
- Choose Run from the file menu and type and enter path\install where
- path is the location of the vector files. If using Windows 95
- click on Start in the lower left hand corner, click on Run and then
- enter path:\install. For example, if the files are on the root
- directory of A drive you would enter A:\install. Install will
- create a directory called C:\VECTOR, copy all of the appropriate
- files, and create the necessary icons.
-
- Using the Program:
- Click on the icon to start Vector and select Trigonometry (or
- press F2). The user will be presented with a right triangle. The
- triangle will contain either two sides or a side and an angle.
- Using trigonometry the user is to determine the remaining sides and
- angles of the triangle. The dialog box will contain the known
- values. Enter the calculated values into the dialog box and click
- on OK when completed. To move around the dialog box either use the
- mouse or TAB key. The user will be informed of correct and
- incorrect responses.
-
- To use the vector part of the program click on either the Two
- Perpendicular Vectors choice (or press F3), the Two Non-
- erpendiuclar vectors choice (or press F4), the Two to Five
- vectors choice(F5), or Resolve a single vector(or press F6).
- For the first 3 choices the user will be presented with vectors
- which are to be added together. Click the left mouse button on
- any vector and drag the vector so that it is added head to tail
- with any other vector. If the procedure is done correctly the
- vector will be placed on a graph with the correct directions
- indicated. When adding large numbers of vectors the
- resultant vector may go off screen because of space
- limitations.
- A dialog box will appear asking for the magnitude and
- direction of the resultant vector. Using trigonometry, the law of
- cosines, or vector component addition the user is to determine
- the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector. Enter each
- in the dialog box. To move from entry to entry use the mouse or
- TAB key.
- When resolving a single vector(F6) enter the magnitude
- of the vertical and horizontal components of the vector into
- the dialog. box.
-
- Angle Mode Menu:
- The default angle arrangement for the vector portion of the
- program is the traditional coordinate system where 0 degrees is to
- the right, 90 degrees is up, 180 degrees is left, and 270 degrees
- is down. To switch to the Compass system where 0 degrees is up
- (North), 90 degrees is right (East), 180 degrees is down (South),
- and 270 degrees is left (West) click on Compass.
-
- Exiting the program:
- To quit the program select this menu item or press Alt-x.
-
- Help can be obtained at any time by clicking on the Help Menu item.
-
- If you have any problems my E-Mail address is
- ALLENT@mail.firn.edu
-
- Timothy J. Allen
-
- DISCLAIMER
- ----------
-
- THE VECTOR PROGRAM IS SOLD "AS IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES AS TO
- PERFORMANCE OR ANY OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED.
- BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENTS INTO
- WHICH THIS PROGRAM MAY BE PUT, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A
- PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OF
- THIS SOFTWARE BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
- DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE THIS PROGRAM. IN NO EVENT
- SHALL THE AUTHORS' LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES EVER EXCEED THE PRICE
- PAID FOR THE LICENSE TO USE THE SOFTWARE, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM
- OF CLAIM. THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISKS AS TO THE
- QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE
- CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
- FLORIDA.
-