Executive summary
MathCAD is a crucial tool for applying in mathematics and especially mathematics for engineering. The software provides an environment of inherent interactivity with scratchpad, real math notation, automatic recalculation and fully integrated project components. MathCAD yields results when making crucial calculations. This is achieved through integration of text, math and graphics into a single worksheet. This in turn, is visualized, illustrated and annotated in all the calculations. MathCAD runs in computer operating systems like MS Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7and windows 8.
Objectives3
Activity procedures.3
Tool bars..5
Matrices9
Conclusion 13
Objectives
Activity procedures
- Load the MathCAD software
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- s:\Application\MathCAD2001i\program files\MathSoft\\MathCAD2001i Professional
- Double click on mathcad.exe
- Copy the MathCAD file by using a right mouse button drag and drop the MathCAD file and drop it into you u drive.
- Click on the engineering application group window and licking on the MathCAD 2001 professional icon to start the MathCAD software.
- Wait for a few seconds and a blank work sheet will appear on which you will see a MathCAD toolbars or Math Palette. This is supposed to appear as shown below.
Fig. 1
The toolbar
The tool bar contains a number of subs tool bars that one can use. These sub-tool bars or Math palettes include icons for graph, vector and matrix, Boolean palette, evaluation palette, calculus, Greek symbol toolbar, programming palette and symbolic keyword palette. These sub-tool bars come in handy in calculations. The figure below shows how the tool bar appears on the screen together with the clicked sub-toolbars of the software.
If you want to do some calculation, click on the calculator/arithmetic button from the tool bar and something like this will appear on the screen of your computer.
Suppose you would like to plot a graph. It is easy, just click on the graph icon or select view then select graph out of the menu. This window will appear on the screen of your machine.
On the main tool bar, calculus palette a button of this character appears like this. Click on it and from the tool bar a window which looks like the figure below will appear on the screen.
For the evaluation purposes the button for evaluation on the tool bar appears like this
The computer scientist and soft ware engineers need programming to be made easier especially when they want to make a programmed robot to do some specific functions. The programming palette appears like this on the tool bar. When the engineer clicks on it this window appears on the screen.
In mathematics and physics some symbols that stand for various constants are used in most cases. These symbols are in Greek alphabets. To access these symbols on this software, click on the icon button and the window of this kind shows on your monitor.
Sometimes using this soft ware may involve too much usage of the mouse and this can be monotonous, boring and time consuming. The shortcut keys can be used to save time. These include.
Nth root: ctrl+\ Equal to: ctrl+=
Infinity: ctrl+shift + z Two-side limit: ctrl +L
Range variable iterated product: shift+3
Contour plot, 3 D bar plot, 3D scatter: ctrl+5
Limit from above: ctrl + shift +A Iterated product: ctrl+shift+3
Indefinite integral: ctrl +I Summation: ctrl+shift+4
Not equal to: ctrl+3 Polar plot: ctrl+7
Not: ctrl + shift +1 And: ctrl+shift+7
Matrices
Using a wide range variable click on the matrix palette and the matrix palette will appear on the screen as shown below.
- Matrix palette
2. Click on
Use a range variable as you would any other variable. Create a output table, by type
x =
Suppose you wanted to calculate the value of the function y=2x at several different value of x. enter the following expression into your worksheet;
Here are the steps how to set range variable in MathCAD
Step 1: sets i equal to a range of integral numbers from 0 to 9. Observe on giving the original number, pressing the semicolon and then giving the last number defines the range. Similarly, if you wanted a range like this 0, 2,4 6,8,10, you could Type “i:0, 2; 10” since the 2 commands MathCAD to change the value of i by steps of 2. This specific expression typed in step 1 defines what is in other words termed as a Range Variable of Step Variable. In most cases, step variable are defined such that they contain a sequence of integers which can be used to index the elements of other arrays, like what is defined in step 2.
Step 2: this step defines an array of numbers equal to times the index number (i.e. xo=0, x1=2, x3=4,). Observe that the left bracket „[„ allows you to generate subscripts and pressing the spacebar makes one return to a regular script.
Step 3: this step works the same as step2 and it defines a range of y values in terms of the range of x values. To observe the entire range variables i, x, and y, type “i=” an „y=‟, respectively.
A matrix can be defined as a collection of mathematical elements which are arranged systematically in rows and columns. These elements of a matrix can be simple numbers, or unknown expressions which need to be determined. Matrices are powerful tools especially when it comes to solve problems in linear algebra.
Examples of matrices are as shown below
1.2
X = 3.7 B= 1 0 C= cos x 0 1
8.2 0 1 0 sin x 1
1 1 0
The first matrix, A, is a 4 by 1 matrix (contains 4 rows and 1 column of elements). Matrix B is a 2 by 2 and C is a 3 by 3 matrix. A single columned matrix, like in A above are often referred to as vectors or arrays. The steps on how to enter the matrix are as shown below;
On the vector and matrix palette, click on 3 by 3 matrix icon
Menu: insert/matrix
On the Keyboard press CTRL+M Choose the number of rows and columns and fill in the placeholder
A particular element of a vector is accessed through the use of the subscript operator typing the a left square bracket“[“
1 : = 0 . . 1
x1 : = 1
x1 : =
Conclusion
The basic concepts in this report are fundamental to understanding the use of MathCAD to solve mathematical problems. This is basically achieved through learning how to get started and of course learning how to enter matrices using MathCAD software. The different versions of the software available in the market are for the user to choose and to determine which type of the version best suits the machine and the task that lies ahead. With the advent of the software, most of the work had been made easier. This software has made engineers safe time and money and also minimize errors that could occur due to careless mistakes that occur during calculation of figures in mathematics.
