Re: [Descartes-general] math-grapher

[Joachim W. <wu...@we...>]

Beste Mario,

dank U wel voor U mail,

> what that software does is far to much for my needs: I just want =20
> something Open Source (I want to involve my pupils in the project)

If you are using the computer in a math course, there is little chance tha=
t
you will have time to involve your students in the internals of a plotting=

program. At best, you could aim at getting the students to modify little
numeric scripts; within descartes, for instance, the user can add a plugin=

that contains a function definition.

btw: I will be glad to discuss with you the pedagogical aspect of your pro=
ject;
since this is a little bit out of the scope of the descartes mailing list,=
 please
feel free to write to my private email address (and feel free to write in =
Dutch).
Just tell me more precisely what you expect the students to do.

> that =20
> is able to draw one or more f(x) =3D ... and possibly compute tangent =20
> lines...  other fancy things like derivatives or integrals and area =20
> between two or more curves/axes, zero or maxima, could also be nice but =
=20
> can come later...

It is a reasoned decision that descartes allows you to plot whatever f(x) =
you
like, but not to perform algebraic manipulations like calculating a deriva=
tive -
this, again, is more a pedagogical than a technical topic.

>=20
> I have written, in just two hours work, a small almost working python =20
> thing based on wxglade and Gnuplot.  before I go on, I will have a look =
=20
> at your project, but I don't want to make too much pressure: if the =20
> pupils are going to participate, then it will be difficult to mainain =20
> stability...  I don't know.  actually my fear is that I ask: "who of =20
> you has linux at home" and they stare at me wondering which language I =20
> am speaking.

It depends. Among my twenty 17-years-old students, two had Linux at home,
but I guess that's an above-average score.

I don't know if wxglade also runs on windows, I =20
> understood that your software does... =20

> why don't you put it into the =20
> sourceforge cvs system=3F

The zip file which is available for download at the descartes project site=

contains the entire source (just one Python file, but this will change in
the future); so I do not see any advantage in using cvs.

Best regards, Joachim

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