Getting started with KAlgebra/it

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    Revision as of 07:56, 5 February 2011 by Caig (talk | contribs)

    Inizio » Applicazioni » Educazione » KAlgebra/it » it

    KAlgebra is a calculator with symbolic and analysis features that lets you plot 2D and 3D functions as well as to easily calculate mathematical expressions.

    The Console Tab

    When you first open KAlgebra a blank window shows up, this is the main work area for calculus.

    Let's get started with a little example of how KAlgebra works, just type:

    2+2

    Then type Enter and KAlgebra will show you the result. So far it's easy.


    However, KAlgebra is much more powerful than that. It started as a simple calculator, but now it's almost a CAS.

    You can define variables this way:

    k:=3

    And use them normally:

    k*4

    And that will give you the result:

    12

    You can also define functions:

    f:=x->x^2

    And then use them:

    f(3)

    Which should return

    9.

    You can define a function with as many variables as you want:

    g:=(x,y)->x*y

    The possibilities of defining functions are endless if you combine this with the piecewise function. Let's define the factor function:

    fact:=n->piecewise { n=0 ? 1, n=1 ? 1, ? n*fact(n-1) }

    Yes! KAlgebra supports recursive functions. Give some values to n, to test it.

    fact(5)
    fact(3)

    KAlgebra has recently started support for symbolic operations, to check it out, just type:

    x+x+x+x

    or

    x*x

    It doesn't work on some complex structures, though. Only basic support so far.

    Moreover, KAlgebra has support for differentiation. An example of the syntax:

    diff(x^2:x)

    If you have used KAlgebra, you will have noticed the syntax completion support, which is very helpful.

    Another resource that can be useful to learn more about KAlgebra comes with KAlgebra: The Dictionary tab

    It contains examples of every function supported by KAlgebra. Maybe this is the best way to learn how to do things with KAlgebra.