Chapter 5

Algebraic and arithmetic operations

An algebraic object, or simply, algebraic, is any number, variable name or algebraic expression that can be operated upon, manipulated, and combined according to the rules of algebra. Examples of algebraic objects are the following:

•

A number:

12.3, 15.2_m, ‘π’, ‘e’, ‘i’

•

A variable name:

‘a’, ‘ux’, ‘width’, etc.

•

An expression:

‘p*D^2/4’,’f*(L/D)*(V^2/(2*g))’,

•An equation: ‘p*V = n*R*T’, ‘Q=(Cu/n)*A(y)*R(y)^(2/3)*√So’

Entering algebraic objects

Algebraic objects can be created by typing the object between single quotes directly into stack level 1 or by using the equation writer [EQW]. For example, to enter the algebraic object ‘π*D^2/4’ directly into stack level 1 use:

³„ì*~dQ2/4`

An algebraic object can also be built in the Equation Writer and then sent to the stack, or operated upon in the Equation Writer itself. The operation of the Equation Writer was described in Chapter 2. As an exercise, build the following algebraic object in the Equation Writer:

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