Calculator

Use the Calculator to create or edit two kinds of Sketchpad objects: calculations and functions.

Calculations are values calculated using numbers, mathematical operations, functions, and measurements or other values from your sketch. These calculations can be used for a wide variety of purposes: to define distances, angles, and scale factors by which objects are transformed; to plot points; and to determine the results of other calculations and functions.

When you define a function in Sketchpad, you can also use numbers, mathematical operations, functions, and measurements or other values from your sketch. Once you’ve defined a function, you can use it for various purposes: You can plot it, evaluate it, differentiate it, or use it to define other calculations or functions.

There are several different purposes for which you’ll use the Calculator:

· To create a new calculation, choose Calculate from the Measure menu.

· To create a new function, choose New Function from the Graph menu.

You can use the Plot New Function command to create a new function and plot it immediately.

· To edit a calculation, double-click the calculation with the Selection Arrow tool; or select the calculation and choose Edit Calculation from the Edit menu.

· To edit a function definition, double-click the function with the Selection Arrow tool; or select the function and choose Edit Function from the Edit menu.

· To change a parameter into a calculation, select the parameter, choose Edit Parameter from the Edit menu, and change the expression to something more complicated than just a number.

· To change a calculation into a parameter, edit it so that it consists of one number only, with or without units.

Subtopics:
Parts of the Calculator
How To Use Signum to Construct a Piecewise Function
Inserting Values and Functions from the Sketch
Inserting a New Parameter