Algebraic manipulators for the Mac

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3 total messages Started by Bill Roberts Wed, 15 Oct 1986 19:30

#7210

Author: Bill Roberts
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 1986 19:30

21 lines
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Has anyone in netland heard of any algebraic manipulator systems for the 
MacIntosh?  I recently saw were a company called Industrial Computations Inc.
of Wellesley, MA is marketing a program called "PowerMath".  The ad reads

		Type in your problem, using conventional math notation, and
		PowerMath will solve your calculus, algebra and matrix
		problems.  PowerMath does factorials, summations, simultaneous
		equations, plots, Taylor series, trigonometry and allows 
		unlimited number size.  

That last statement ("...unlimited number size.") hints at PowerMath being a 
symbolic computation engine as opposed to an equation solver like TKSolver.
Thanks in advance for any input.

								Bill Roberts
								NCAR/HAO
								Boulder, CO
								!hao!bill

  "...most people spend their lives avoiding intense situations,
	a Repo man seeks them out!"

Re: Algebraic manipulators for the Mac

#7649

Author: Peter Merchant
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1986 23:55

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> ...I recently saw were a company called Industrial Computations Inc.
> of Wellesley, MA is marketing a program called "PowerMath".  The ad reads
> 
> 		Type in your problem, using conventional math notation, and
> 		PowerMath will solve your calculus, algebra and matrix
> 		problems.  PowerMath does factorials, summations, simultaneous
> 		equations, plots, Taylor series, trigonometry and allows 
> 		unlimited number size.  
> 
> That last statement ("...unlimited number size.") hints at PowerMath being a 
> symbolic computation engine as opposed to an equation solver like TKSolver.
> Thanks in advance for any input.
> 								Bill Roberts

I had a chance to use PowerMath and was severely impressed.  It does all sorts
of mathematical functions and has a very nice Macintosh interface.  I have a
feeling, though, that is program was originally designed for a mainframe.

I would love to see PowerMath run on a Mac with a Prodigy upgrade, or maybe
a HyperDrive 2000.  I used one on a 512K Mac and, while it was very good,
was the most slowest (yes, I meant to do that) program I had ever seen.  The
program took minutes to do what TK!Solver seconds.

On the other hand, it did do everything it advertised.  Made good graphs, too.
If time is not a problem for you, I'd really suggest it.  If anyone has detes
on it running on a Prodigy upgrade, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!
--
"Do you want him?!                             Peter Merchant
 Or Do you want me!?
 'Cause I want you!"

Re: Algebraic manipulators for the Mac

#7650

Author: Bruce Char
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 1986 15:00

17 lines
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There is an article by two of the authors of PowerMath in the Proceedings of
the 1986 Symposium on Symbolic and Algebraic Computation (sponsored by
ACM SIGSAM): "PowerMath, A System for the Macintosh", by J. Davenport and
C. Roth, pp. 13-15.  Abstract from the paper:

	PowerMath is a symbolic algebra system for the MacIntosh
	computer.  This paper outlines the design decisions that were
	made during its development, and explains how the novel
	MacIntosh environment helped and hindered the development of the
	system.  While the interior of PowerMath is fairly conventional, the
	user interface has many novel features.  It is these that make
	PowerMath not just another microcomputer algebra system.


Bruce Char
Dept. of Computer Science
University of Waterloo

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