Regards

Neven
Softmath

As I said earlier, perhaps these algebra “show the steps” solutions should give the user some choices during the process.

So in your case, you could “nudge” it to do it via logs.

Or another option is to give all flavors of solutions and you could look at the whole lot. But then, that could become tedious…

It is not possible to find the inverse of a 3×2 matrix. See Inverse of a Matrix.

We will take many of your comments into consideration for the next release.

Regards
Neven

Neven: I appreciate your taking the time to respond to my review. Let me comment on each of your points.

1. Equation x + 1 = 5.64385619 was solved the way shown, because Solution |settings |Integer was on. For ‘normal’ solution the setting needs to be Real. The default is Integer because users typically want solution to equation such as 2x=3 to be x=3/2

Perhaps there needs to be an indication somewhere on the screen that the setting is ‘integer’. That would prompt the user to change the setting if they wanted a decimal answer. You are right, tho – the default seems to be a fraction answer in many math text books. That is weird to me, since decimal is more user friendly (where it is a non-recurring decimal).

But it stll does not explain why I saw unnecessary factoring of the denominator…

2. Previous and Next buttons take you through multiple transformations in one step (i.e. aa/bb ->a^2/b^2 will have two transformations. (It is our fault for not disabling buttons when only a single transformation is present)

That makes sense. I share your pain – it’s always the little things we overlook when building these things.

3. Algebrator can solve the quadratic equation by grouping, completing the square and using the quadratic formula. This can be accomplished via the Solution | Settings dialog

Perhaps this should be presented to the user as a pull down menu, after the software recognises that it is a quadratic? (Rather than requiring the user to go looking for a Setting hidden somewhere.)

4. Number of steps can be controlled via visibility setting (click on visibility on main menu bar). The matrix problem will show 13 steps when visibility is set on low. Some students need more and some less details

It may have appeared that I was criticising the number of steps shown – I wasn’t. I was more criticising the point that some matrix classes still require mountains of Gauss-Jordan steps on paper and I’m not sure that’s the best use of human brains.

5. Regarding the ‘fundamental issue’ of showing the steps – the primary reason for existence of Algebrator is to show steps and explanations. The fact is that 90% of teachers still do require students to provide steps – Algebrator is here to fill that need.

Yes – you are quite right about most teachers requiring the steps. I’m just looking forward to the day when less human effort is spent on things that computers can do much better. [The cut-off line for this is debatable of course. Students still need to be able to do basic operations on paper
before they can understand what a computer can do for them. Also, not every student has access to a computer.]

6. “Gripes” – In regards to editing the user entered problem – you can do it (just double click on it). The other gripes do have merit.

Ahh – somehow, I never think to double click – there was no file to open, after all. Perhaps this facility can also be flagged in a tooltip (or popup) that appears first time the user is typing something? [They could be given the option 'Don't show me this again'].

7. [...] The fact is that the MS can give steps for a very small subset of problems it solves. Also it gets stuck on simplifying problems as simple as (x^2-y^2)/(x-y). [...]

OK, I’ll take your word for it at this stage.

BBosley: One of the first CAS’s I ever used was Derive. It used to fit on a floppy disk, if I remember rightly. And yes, it was quite good. Thanks for your summary of products.

Thank you for your comment. Since Bagatrix is our main competitor, I would be very interested in knowing what areas of algebra you found that Bagatrix covers, that Algebrator doesn’t. (Also do you remember which version of Algebrator you vere reviewing?). We strive to produce the most comprehensive package around, so your comment would really be appreciated.

In regards to Derive – in terms of coverage, it beats any other mentioned piece of software hands down (including Algebrator); unfortunately it does not show steps explanations. You are correct – TI (current owner) disconnected it, favoring a different CAS engine in their graphing calculators.