Two Maths Questions

[Ros J Walker]

Never done a huge amount with Maths Teachers but in the last two weeks I have met Maths teachers working at quite high levels:

1) Typing in equations
How do you type in Square Root in Activstudio? Been through all the places I know where we have symbols(S button in keyboard and fold out Text box and choose Maths). One teacher said that he is typing equations into Word and then snapshotting into Activstudio and he would like to be able to type equations in the same way in Activ.

2) Scientific calculator
Have managed to change a user-defined button to add calc.exe and changed it to Scientific view, but is there any way to keep it on top of the Activstudio window?

I know these are quite specific, but they have been asked!

Thanks


Ros

[Charlotte]

Ros - I got asked about square roots by the maths dept too. The suggestion that seems to work for them is to use the shape recognition tool then lock the numbers to it if you want to. Not that quick I know but it does work...
Charlotte

[airskeeter]

Ros, they will type it as text then use a superscript button on their text edit toolbar to put it in place. That is th only way to do it in AS2.

We have discussed the equation editor in MS word. It is the best for making equations. It creates an object that may be dragged over from MS word or cut and pasted. Many math teachers are looking forward to an easier way to do it but it is what it is right now.

A workaround to use the calculator that was posted here is to arrange your lp so that it is say 1/2 of the page and the claculator is on the other half. It seems that we can't open this calculator as an embedded program and let it run over the top of a flip, just as you stated.

[jtw521]

If I am creating worksheets in MS Word I would just type Alt+R which puts the square root symbol in. If I try to cut and paste this as text or image I get a question mark instead of a square root symbol as AS does not recognise many characters in MS Word.

As I use a lot of standard windows keyboard commands to put symbols in, can't this just be replicated in AS without trying to re-invent the wheel? I find the use of symbols (per se) unsatisfactory in AS and not just the square root one. I would like to type Alt+R whist working in AS, Alt+248 works for the ° symbol as it does in this board!

Because AS inserts symbols as fonts rather than true characters in their own right, if I make the mistake of formatting a section of text containing symbols, those symbols become question marks or squiggles. Secondly, if I am creating a flipchart on inequalities I will use the greater than symbol and the greater than or equal to symbol in the same expression. They look markedly different though as the former is a character from the keyboard which takes the font I am currently typing in whereas the latter is a set font and always looks in a particular way. I then have to explain to the pupils why they look different or go searching for a font that is similar for that character only - all unnecessary.

[Ros J Walker]

Thanks for the feedback. I have actually just been browsing some of the other sections and Mark Robinson has posted a .swf file of a Scientific calculator. With the ability to embed this into a page in 2.5, I have just added it - and it works really well. Not that I would know what to do with a sin or cosine if I fell over one - but I'm sure it's terribly useful for Maths!

http://www.Prometheanworld.com/common/html/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=569

last message on the page.


All theBest
Ros

[alicegop]

As a math teacher the lack of being able to use mathtype with AS is incredibly annoying. I like to use mathtype (www.mathtype.com) which is an upgrade to the equation editor (which I would be happy to at least be able to use that). I can copy and paste mathtype into AS but it changes the background from white to blue. I am sure there is an option I can change but I can't find it. I'll look again.

So if you have mathtype (or equation editor) and hit ctrl A and then crtl C and then paste it (although pasting into AS is a few more steps since you have to choose that you want to paste from the clipboard. I wish ctrl V was defaulted the clipboard) you can stick the equations in. (I've been choosing to just use the camera tool, but I have to go to a new line to get the cursor out of the way.)

The department chair gave me the key strokes to create math in word (shortcuts instead of equation editor) It would be really great if AS could do the same!

Keystrokes for Math
In Word

You can create mathematical formulas in a Word for Windows document by using the EQ field (also referred to as a Formula field). Caution: these formulas can only be printed on printers that have the Symbol font. If the Symbol font is not available on the installed printer, the field codes can be entered in the document, but they will not display or print properly.

• To enter the field code, hold down the CTRL key and press the F9 key once (CTRL + F9). When you do this you will see an opening and closing braces around the insertion point. To produce the formula, type eq followed by a space, and then type the keystrokes necessary for the mathematical formulas you are interested in.

In this document you will find the keystrokes for the following mathematical formulas:
• Array
• Box
• Bracket
• Fraction
• Integral
• Radical
• Subscript and superscript


To edit the field code, hold down the ALT key and press the F9 key once, and you must repeat this sequence to go back to the formula display.

Array (\a)
This command will produce a two dimensional array. The array will be filled in from left to right, then from top to bottom. If none of the arguments from the list below are used, the default settings are for a one-column array with the elements centered in the column.

arguments Effect
\al
\ac
\ar
\con
\vsn
\hsn Aligns left in column
Aligns center in column (default setting)
Aligns right in column
n specifies the number of columns
n specifies vertical spacing, in points
n specifies horizontal spacing, in points

The following are examples of using \a with some of its arguments:

Field code (keystrokes) Result

{ eq \a\co3\hs6(a,b,c,1,2,3,do,re,me)} abc123doreme

{ eq \a(45,554,1234,69)} 45554123469

{ eq \a\ar\co2\hs6(34,245,12,234,2345,4)} 342451223423454


Box (\x)
This command is used to draw a box around a single element. Any character except a comma can be used inside the parentheses. Note: the amount of text inside the parentheses cannot cause the result of the field to exceed one line.

arguments Effect
\to
\bo
\le
\ri Draws only the top border of the box
Draws only the bottom border of the box
Draws only the left border of the box
Draws only the right border of the box

The following are examples of using \x with some of its arguments:

Field code (keystrokes) Result
{ eq \x( box )} box

{ eq \x\to(AB)} AB
this gives line segments
{ eq \x\le\ri(\a\hs10\co2(12,23,34,12))} 12233412
this is one method for representing a determinant, or possibly an absolute value.

Bracket (\b)

This will place brackets — ( , {, [, or < — whichever is specified.

arguments Effect
\lc\c
\rc\c
\bc\c
c specifies the left bracket character
c specifies the right bracket character
c specifies the both bracket characters. Just type one bracket and Word will use the appropriate matching bracket character

The following are examples of using \b and some of its arguments:

Field code (keystrokes) Result
{ eq \b(\a\co2\hs4(1,2,3,4))} 1234

{ eq \b\bc\|(\a\hs10\co2(12,113,2,56)) } 12113256
using the vertical bar character with the \bc argument is another way to represent a determinant. To represent a matrix, use the square bracket character ([) with the \bc argument.
{ eq \b\lc\{\rc\](\a\hs6\co3(1,2,3,4,5,6)) } 123456
you can mix the use of brackets

Fraction (\f)

This format is use to display a fraction from two elements. There are no special arguments.

Field code (keystrokes) Result
{ eq \f(2 + x,45) } 2 + x45

{ eq \f(rise, run ) } rise run




Integral (\i)

This is used to create an integral from three elements. The values inside the parentheses following the argument are the lower limit, upper limit, and integrand.

arguments Effect
\su

\pr

\in

\fc\c
\vc\c Displays a capital sigma and creates a summation, instead of an integration
Displays a capital pi and creates a product, instead of an integration
Displays the inline format. The limits will appear to the right of the symbol, instead of under and above it
Substitutes a fixed height character specified by c
Substitutes a variable height character specified by c

The following are examples of using /I and some of its arguments:

Field code (keystrokes) Result
{ eq \i(0,∞,x dx) } 0∞x dx

{ eq \i\in(0,1,x dx) } 01x dx

{ eq \i\su(n=1,9,(x + n))} n=19(x + n)

{ eq \i\pr(x=1,n,(2x +n)!)} x=1n(2x +n)!


Radical (\r)

This is used to display a radical sign. Either one or two elements can be specified inside the parentheses. If only one element is specified, it is used as the argument to be displayed under the radical. If two elements are specified, the first is used as the root for the radical, and the second is used as the argument to be displayed under the radical.

Field code (keystrokes) Result
{ eq \r(work)} work

{ eq \r(3,15)} 315




Subscript and superscript (\s)

This is used to have subscripts and superscripts that differ from the font auto set. The element to be made subscript or superscript is placed inside the parentheses. If more than one element is specified, Word will stack and left align the elements. The first element will be on the top, the last element will be on the bottom, and any \up or \do arguments will be ignored.

arguments Effect
\up\n
\do\n
\ai\n
\din Moves the element up n points
Moves the element down n points
Adds n points of white space to the top of the element box
Adds n points of white space to the bottom of the element box

The following are examples of using \s and some of its arguments:

Field code (keystrokes) Result
{ eq 345 \s(23454a )} 345 23454a
this is used when you don’t want the font changed, or if you want it higher than word normally does it.
{ eq sin \s(-1)} sin-1

{ eq lim\s\do4(x 0)} limx 0

[rexboggs5]

As a math teacher the lack of being able to use mathtype with AS is incredibly annoying. I like to use mathtype (www.mathtype.com (http://www.mathtype.com/)) which is an upgrade to the equation editor (which I would be happy to at least be able to use that). I can copy and paste mathtype into AS but it changes the background from white to blue. I am sure there is an option I can change but I can't find it. I'll look again.

Alice, I just added MathType to my toolbar as a user-defined button. When I click on it, MathType opens up. I type my equation and then just drag it onto the flip chart. Seems to have a transparent background. (As you pointed out, copying and pasting doesn't.). Caveat: it appears that the equation is changed into a transparent gif with some anti-aliasing. If the background colour of the flipchart is white, it is fine, but if it is not (dark blue say) then the equation has a few white spots around it. Drag an equation onto a flipchart with a white background and then onto one with a dark blue background and you will see what I mean.

Cheers

Rex

[Peter Lambert]

The background colour of the pasted image may be removed by changing the image's background transparency.

If you double click the pasted equation, choose the notepad icon (properties) from the pop-up, then click on Appearance. You may then click the transparency box and choose the blue background to be the transparent colour. Because the blue colour isn't a consistent blue there may be areas of patchiness within the transparency, so it is best to keep a white flipchart page background.

Hope this makes sense!
+wave+

[Westlake]

Great website for Maths equations you want to use on the board at EquationSheet.com http://www.equationsheet.com/index-Equations.html Save your favourite equations into your Image Library for later use.
Chemistry and Physics equations as well.
Hilary

[Dave Harrington]

I've always used the equation editor as described above, but recently came across fx equation as an alternative. I'm still on the 30 day trial,but trying to persuade the "powers (no pun intended:rolleyes: ) that be" to purchase it. If you don't like all the mouse work needed with equation editor, it's well worth a look. For example, to enter "root of (x squared plus y squared)" I just type "sqrt(x2+y2)" and it sorts it out. Doesn't integrate into AS of course- perhaps that's one for the grand children?