Solving equations, and exponents.

[Denise.]

I know this is a newb question, but is it possible to solve equations using this program? If so, how? For example, take -5(5-1), and the answer would be -25+5.

And is there an exponent function? Every time when I'm on the computer, and using exponents, I have to use ^3 which reads "cubed" or "to the third power." Is there an exponent function? If there is, could you tell me how to use it? If not, then it's OK.

[David]

In a word, "No."

Longer explanation: The editor allows you to write stuff, not solve it. In fact, not even high power symbolic math programs will do that. They will write bigger and better formulas, and give instant answers to complex calculations, but will not show the steps. For that you need the calculator contained in your skull. No offense intended there, just plain fact.

There is an EXP() function and calculator capability in the spreadsheet.

David.

[micha137]

Hi David and Denise,
I would like to make a comment on the "high power symbolic computation programs". In fact they can show you the steps of your calculations.
In fact somewhere else in this forum I found a hint on the program maxima, which is open source and can be downloaded at sourceforge net. If you let it solve differential equations e.g. you can ask for the method it used and it will show you. In algebraic manipulations you can influence alsmost every aspect of how to group, resolve to whatever depth or order the result. However that needs a lot of practice and this animal is harder to ride than a spreadsheet.
I am teaching physics and just a week ago began to use use maxima for solving problems and am pretty enthusiastic about it. In order to produce e.g. a demo solution for class tests, however, I still couldn´t find any better way than to use maxima to solve the math and first insert the calculation per copy and paste of the text editor into the openoffice document. Unfortunately this converts the nicely set math print into an ugly but readable text formula (putting everything in a single line and using * ^ / and the like as operators). Then I use OoMath as formula editor - typing everything anew using the text formula as rememberance aid- to produce nicely set formulas from that.
Sounds complicated but works better than it sounds

Have fun with math
micha137
_________________
kind regards
Michael Anders

[David]