home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1 What is SymbMath
-
- SymbMath (an abbreviation for Symbolic Mathematics) is asymbolic
- calculator that can solve symbolic math problems.
- SymbMath is a computer algebra system that can perform exact
- numeric, symbolic and graphic computation. It manipulates complicated
- formulas and returns answers in terms of symbols, formulas, exact numbers,
- tables and graph.
- SymbMath is an expert system that is able to learn from user's input. If
- the user only input one formula without writing any code, it will automatically
- learn many problems related to this formula (e.g. it learns many integrals
- involving an unknown function f(x) from one derivative f'(x)).
- SymbMath is a symbolic, numeric and graphics computing
- environment where you can set up, run and document your calculation, draw
- your graph, and use external functions in the same way as standard functions
- since the external functions are auto-loaded.
- SymbMath is a programming language in which you can define
- conditional, case, piecewise, recursive, multi-value functions and procedures,
- derivatives, integrals and rules.
- SymbMath is database where you can search your data.
- SymbMath is a multi-windowed editor in which you can copy-and-paste
- anywhere in a file and between files, even from the Help window.
- It is symbolic math engine in other software by interface with
- other languages such as Basic, Pascal, C.
- It runs on IBM PCs (8086) with 400 KB free memory under MS-DOS.
-
-
- 1.2 Capabilities
-
- It can provide analytical and numeric answers for:
- * Differentiation: regular or higher order, partial or total, mixed and
- implicit differentiation, one-sided derivatives.
- * Integration: indefinite or definite integration, multiple integration,
- infinity as a bound, parametric or iterated implicit integration.
- * Solution of equations: roots of a polynomial, systems of algebraic or
- differential equations.
- * Manipulation of expressions: simplification, factoring or expansion,
- substitution, evaluation.
- * Calculation: exact and floating-point numeric computation of integer,
- rational, real and complex numbers in the range from minus to plus infinity,
- even with different units.
- * Limits: real, complex or one-sided limits, indeterminate forms.
- * Complex: calculation, functions, derivatives, integration.
- * Sum and product: partial, finite or infinite.
- * Others: series, lists, arrays, vectors, matrices, tables, etc.
- Also included are:
- * Plot: functions, polar, parametric, data, and list.
- * Draw: lines, arcs, ellipse, circles, ovals.
- * Auto-loaded library in the source code.
- * Pull-down and pop-up menus, resizable and colourable windows.
- * On-line help, and on-line manual.
- * Procedural, conditional, iteration, recursive, functional, rule-based,
- logic, pattern-matching and graphic programming.
- * Searching database.
-
- 1.3 Shareware and Advanced Versions
-
- You should register with the author if you use SymbMath.
- Please read all *.TXT files before running SymbMath. Please copy-and-
- paste examples in the Help window to practise. The printed documents (100+
- pages) is available from author.
- If you get the SymbMath on ZIP format (e.g. sm33a.zip), you should
- unzip it with parameter -d by
- pkunzip -d sm33a c:\symbmath
- Or on the MS-DOS prompt to install it, type Install
- On the MS-DOS prompt to run it, type SymbMath
- SymbMath has two versions: Shareware Version A and Advanced Version C.
- The Shareware version lacks the solve(), trig (except sin(x) and cos(x)), and
- hyperbolic functions, (lack 10% keywords). You cannot input these lack functions
- in Shareware version.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Version Class Lacked Functions Price
-
- Shareware A solve(), hyperbolic, US$10 or AU$10
- trig (except sin(x), cos(x))
- Advanced C US$80 or AU$99
- Libraries *.li US$20 or AU$25
- Manual printed US$20 or AU$25
- ...........................................................................................................................
- Upgrade same 50%
- ...........................................................................................................................
- Multiple copies >2 80%
- ...........................................................................................................................
- Site licence >10 copies 50%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Other foreign money is accepted at the current exchange rate.
- You must provide the photocopy of your license or license number for
- upgrades.
- If you send the author your payment by cheque, money order or bank
- draft that must be drawn in Australia, you will get the latest version. If
- you sign the license (see the LICENSE.TXT file) and send it to the author,
- you will be a legal user for upgrades. If you write a paper about this
- software on publication, you will get a free upgrade.
- It's available from the author. The Shareware version is available
- from anonymous FTP sites (e.g. ftp://ftp.simtel.net/SimTel/msdos/calculat
- /sm332a.zip).
-
-
- 1.4 A List of Files in SymbMath
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
- in directory SymbMath:
-
- SymbMath.exe executable SymbMath system.
- SymbMath.ini initial file.
- SymbMath.hlp help file.
- Symbmath.dri drive number. drive(1) is drive A, drive(2) is drive B.
- init.sm initial SymbMath program file.
- *.sm packages (user SymbMath program files).
- prolog.err prolog error message file.
-
- in directory SymbMath\Help:
-
- Symbmath.h* help files, * is numbers.
-
- in directory SymbMath\BGI:
-
- *.bgi BGI graphics drives.
- *.chr stroked fonts.
-
-
- in directory SymbMath\library:
-
- *.li the auto loaded libraries (external functions).
-
-
- in directory SymbMath\keyword:
-
- *.key the keyword files.
-
- in directory SymbMath\text:
-
- SymbMath.txt introduction of SymbMath.
- readme.txt the read-me file, this file should be read first.
- problem.txt problems that other software cannot solve, but
- SymbMath can do.
- comment*.txt comments on SymbMath.
- statisti.txt the download statistics at FTP site of garbo.uwasa.fi.
- shareware.txt Shareware concept.
- software.txt software available from the author.
- update.txt the latest updates in SymbMath.
- PlotData.txt introduction of PlotData.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- See Chapter 3.4 "Library and Package" for the detail of the *.li
- and *.sm files.