About Microsoft Mathematics
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About Microsoft Mathematics Microsoft Mathematics provides a set of ma thematical tools that help students get school work done quickly and easily. With Microsoft Mathematics, students can learn to solve equations step-by-step, while gaining a better understanding of fundamental concepts in pre-algebra, algebra, trigonometry, physics, chemistry, and calculus. Microsoft Mathematics includes a full-featured graphing calculator that’s designed to work just like a handheld calculator. Additional math tools help you evaluate triangles, convert from one system of units to another, and solve systems of equations. Microsoft Mathematics can help you with many tasks, including:
Computing standard mathematical functions functions,, such as roots and logarithms logarithms..
Solving equations equations and and inequalities.
Solving triangles.
Converting measurements from one unit to another.
Computing trigonometric functions, such as sine sine and and cosine cosine..
Performing matrix matrix and and vector vector operations, operations, such as inverses and cross-products.
Computing basic statistics, such as mean mean and and standard deviation. deviation.
Performing operations on complex numbers. numbers.
Plotting 2D and 3D graphs in Cartesian Cartesian,, polar polar,, cylindrical, and spherical spherical coordinates. coordinates.
Finding derivatives derivatives and and integrals integrals,, limits limits,, and sums and products of series series..
Finding, plotting, and solving common formulas and equations.
Related Topics About the workspace About the Math Tools Solve an example problem Use the mouse Use the keyboard Use ink input
About the workspace When Microsoft Mathematics opens, you'll see the following elements displayed:
Calculator pad The calculator pad includes a number pad and the following button groups: Complex Numbers, Calculus, Statistics, Trigonometry, Linear Algebra, Standard, and Favorite Buttons.
Worksheet tab The Worksheet tab, displayed by default, is where you'll probably do most of your numerical computing. This tab includes an input pane and an output pane. You can use input mathematical expressions by using the keyboard, mouse, or ink input. Wh en you complete the expression, Microsoft Mathema tics evaluates it both symbolically and numerically (if applicable), and then displays the results in the output pane. In some cases, the output may include step-by-step solutions or additional information about the solution.
Graphing tab The Graphing tab can be used to create most mathematical graphs. This tab includes an input pane to enter the function,, equation function equation,, inequality, data set, or parametric equation that equation that you want to plot. To work with the graph after you plot it, the Graphing tab also includes a pane that describes what is plotted in the graph, and a graph pane that displays the graph.
Ribbon The Ribbon is designed to help you quickly find the commands that you need to complete a task. Commands are organized in logical groups, which are collected together under tabs. Each tab relates to a type of activity, such as inserting data. To reduce clutter, some tabs are shown only when needed. For example, the Graphing Tools tab is shown only when you are plotting graphs.
Related Topics About Microsoft Mathematics Solve an example problem Use the mouse Use the keyboard
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About Microsoft Mathematics
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About mathematical expressions and evaluation A mathematical expression is any combination of numbers, variables, operators, and functions. For example, a number such as 17 is a mathematical expression, as is the variable x , and the combinations x+17 , sin( x ), and x ² 3. You can enter mathematical expressions by using the mouse, the keyboard, or using ink. When entering expressions, you use a particular set of rules, or syntax , to make sure that Microsoft Mathematics performs the appropriate calculations. However, Microsoft Mathematics is flexible in interpreting what you enter. For example, if you enter a function name and supply an argument, Microsoft Mathematics automatically supplies missing parentheses. If you type an expression without a function or command, Microsoft Mathematics performs the most likely calculation, automatically supplying the necessary syntax, a nd in many cases gives you options for additional calculations. For example, if you enter an equation containing a single variable x , Microsoft Mathematics automatically solves for x . The process of calculating the value of an expression is called evaluation. Microsoft Mathematics evaluates expressions and returns results or answers. Not all results are numbers. For example, if an expression involves a variable such as x or n, and no value is stored with that variable name, the output contains the variable. Related Topics Use contextual evaluation About functions Use the keyboard Use the mouse Use ink input
About step-by-step solutions Microsoft Mathematics provides step-by-step solutions to many types of problems, from simplification of algebraic expressions to solving systems of equations. If a step-by-step solution is available for an expression, you will see the heading "Solution steps" between the input and output expressions in the output pane. Click the heading to show the step-by-step solution. Note In some cases, the solution steps he ading will indicate the particular method used for the solution.
Use the mouse You can use a mouse to click buttons just as you would press buttons on a handheld calculator. You can click buttons to construct mathematical expressions, perform calculations, plot graphs, and solve equations. The following examples show how you can use the mouse to create a graph and solve an equation. To create the graph of y = sin( x ) 1.
Click the Graphing tab.
2.
Click the first box in the section. An input box will open.
3.
Click the following buttons:
4.
Click Enter.
5.
Click Graph.
To solve the equation x ² - 25 = 0 1.
On the Home tab, in the Tools group, click Equation Solver.
2.
Click the box labeled Equation 1.
3.
Click the following buttons:
4.
Click Solve.
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About Microsoft Mathematics
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Use the keyboard You can type mathematical expressions, create graphs, and solve equations without using a mouse. The following examples show how you can use the keyboard to create a graph and solve an equation. To create the graph of y = sin( x )
On the Worksheet tab, type the following, and then press Enter: plotEq2d(y=sin(x))
The Graphing tab is automatically displayed and your graph is plotted. When you return to the Worksheet tab, an entry for the graph that you created appears in the output pane. To solve the equation x ² - 25 = 0
On the Worksheet tab, type the following, and then press Enter: solve(x^2 - 25 = 0)
Related Topics About functions Precedence of operators Store a variable
Use ink input You can write mathematical expressions in the Ink input pane using the pen from a Tablet PC or an ultra-mobile PC. Ink input is available on both the Worksheet and Graphing tabs. If you choose ink input, the calculator pad is hidden by default. To use ink input 1.
On the Home tab, in the Input group, click Ink. The input pane switches to Ink input, with a yellow input area showing the text "Write Here".
2.
Write a mathematical expression in the input area. A preview pane shows the interpretation of your handwriting.
3.
If the expression you wrote, or an equivalent expression, appears correctly in the preview pane, tap Enter. If the expression shown in the preview pane is not what you wrote, try editing your ink.
To edit ink input
1.
Tap the
button to switch from pen to eraser.
The eraser removes one complete pen stroke at a time. 2.
Tap Undo on the Home tab to undo th e last stroke. Tapping repeatedly will undo ea rlier strokes.
3.
Tap Redo on the Home tab to restore the last undone stroke.
Tip You can also use the lasso selection tool to select the ink stroke you want to edit. To create the graph of y = sin( x ) 1.
Tap the Graphing tab.
2.
Expand Equations & Functions.
3.
Tap the first box in the section. An input box will open.
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About Microsoft Mathematics
4.
Write sin(x) in the input box.
5.
Tap Enter.
6.
Tap Graph.
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About functions Most mathematical operations in Microsoft Mathematics take the form of a function. A function consists of the function name, followed by an opening parenthesis, the arguments for the function separated by commas, and a closing parenthesis. In most cases, Microsoft Mathematics supplies parentheses if omitted in the input. Most calculator pad buttons represent fun ctions—when you click a button you will genera lly see the associated function name and the opening parenthesis appear in the input pane. For example, if you click the absolute value button
, you see the following in the input pane:
abs(
To find the function name for a calculation, you can:
Look in the input pane after you click a function button on the calculator pad.
Press the Keyboard Equivalents icon above an item in the output pane on the Worksheet tab.
Look up the function in Help.
Related Topics Precedence of operators Use the keyboard About mathematical expressions and evaluation
Solve an example problem This topic shows how you can use Microsoft Mathematics to solve a ma th problem. Our sample problem is to find the area of a walkway that surrounds a rectangular swimming pool. The pool measures 9 meters by 15 meters, and the walkway is 2 meters wide.
1.
Calculate the area of the pool and walkway by clicking the following calculator buttons. Use parentheses to group calculations appropriately:
2.
Calculate the area of just the pool:
3.
Subtract the area of the pool from the area of the pool and walkway:
Tip You can simplify the final step by using the calculations you have already performed. In the output pane of the worksheet, double-click the output for the area of the pool and walkway, click the
output for the area of just the pool, and then click
button, double-click the
.
Create a graph To create most mathematical graphs, you use the Graphing tab. The Graphing tab includes an input pane that you use to enter the function, equation, inequality, data set, or parametric equation that you want to plot. To work with
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About Microsoft Mathematics
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the graph after you plot it, the Graphing tab also includes a pane that describes what is plotted in the graph, and a graph pane that displays the graph. General steps for plotting a graph 1.
Click the Graphing tab.
2.
Expand the appropriate input pane: Equations & Functions, Equations, Data Sets, Parametric, or Inequalities.
3.
In the Dimensions list, click 2D or 3D.
4.
In the Coordinates list, click Cartesian, Polar, Spherical, or Cylindrical.
5.
Enter the expression or data you want to plot.
6.
Click Graph.
Interrupt a calculation In rare cases, you might ask Microsoft Mathematics to perform calculations that take a long time to evaluate. This generally happens only with large ma trix calculations, but it may occur in other situations as well. If the calculations take longer than you expect and you want to stop them, you can. To interrupt a calculation
On the input pane, click Enter again while the calculation is in progress. A dialog appears to ask if you want to stop the calculation.
About case-sensitivity With one important exception, Microsoft Mathematics tools are not case-sensitive. When you type the names of commands or functions, it does not matter whether you capitalize the names exactly as shown in the help examples. For example, "isTrue" is the same as "istrue" or "IsTRue", and the constant named "e" is the same as "E". The one exception is variables that you create. Microsoft Mathematics respects the case you choose for these variables, so x and X are considered different variables. This case-sensitivity has an effect in graphing. Microsoft Mathematics uses the lowercase variables x , y , and z (plus a few others) in graphing. It does not use the corresponding uppercase variable names X , Y , and Z , which are different variables, and treated as constants in graphing.
Precedence of operators When Microsoft Mathematics evaluates the operations that you enter, it evaluates the operators in the following order. Operators in the same row have equal precedence, and are evaluated left to right unless you use parentheses to group operations. !! ! ( { ^ + / * % + = > >= < <= <> not and xor or
double factorial factorial grouping, list definition exponent unary plus, unary minus division, multiplication, remainder addition, subtraction comparisons
Related Topics Use the keyboard About functions
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