MattsMathTools / MattsMathBlog: Recent posts

It never fails. Once I decide I've covered all the possible math tools I come up with another one. This time it's MathProbTools, a collection of gear to create probability questions. It contains four subtools: Urns, Cards and Decks, Dice and Dartboards. These are classics used in teaching probability and the MathTools versions present plenty of ways to use them.

In other news, I added another format() method to MathTestFormatter and improved the array-scrambling methods in MathEngine. I also rewrote the two primitive-argument versions to use the Object[] one. Now it works a LOT better.... read more

This is mostly a bugfix and documentation release, although it does include a new pair of tools.

MathSurvey and MathSurveyReport are designed to collect, condense and present survey-style information. There are many grouping and selection methods, allowing survey inclusion/exclusion at any granularity.

The graph paper generators added are Triangle and Box. The Box generator was inspired by genko yoshi (Japanese manuscript paper) although this generator is much more flexible.
The documentation change was to add links to my book pages under the 'contribute' section.... read more

Two major things and a few bug fixes. SimpleTagImpl in the markup.* package had a subtle bug with infinite recursion. Corrected that one by adding a SINGLE underscore to a method name. Irritating. Second major thing is Globe Map paper (Graph Paper Generator). This generator produces globe-map style graphs with longitude and latitude. Either may be curved or straight, which also allows a circle-shaped quadrille grid to be created.... read more

I keep saying "It's done" and then thinking up something else. Basically, when my (great science fiction!) book sales drop, I work on MathTools. Or, when I need a break. Whatever the reason, here's a polish-and-bugfix release. It may be a while before the next, so enjoy this one!

I've reworked MEquation so it self-calculates a LOT of things, including its own formats. That makes adding equations even easier. I finally restored the original equations, which made my decision to release yet another final beta. The MEquation API didn't change but the inner workings did. Drastically!... read more

Wow. Lots of stuff happened since last post. Some good, most bad.

In MathTools news, I've added one class to the core tools and one POWERFUL method to one of the utility classes. The MathSet class allows quick generation of random set/subset questions. It can load and piece together chains of sets and subsets and keep track of symbols for each. These symbols become formatting tokens for generating questions.... read more

This is probably the last stable beta release. Unless I come up with lots of wild new stuff OR I get some feedback I'm going to call this good for a while. I've made a couple of changes, mostly cosmetic, but nothing fundamental yet.

At some point I'll probably add more MEquations and I'm thinking about a couple more graph papers but that's a low priority right now.

Those following this blog know about my books. Right now all my effort needs to go toward selling books. Unfortunately that means MathTools will have to take care of itself for a while. Never fear, though, I may be occupied elsewhere for a while but I am NOT abandoning Matt's MathTools!... read more

Not so random thoughts. I've made a couple of minor changes but nothing worth posting yet. I also took out some more deprecated stuff. New release will contain all of them but probably won't be out for a while. Still working hard on other projects.

-matt

MathTools_1402241305

Tutorials_1402241306

Fixed a couple of bugs in MTXProcessor. Output properties can now be set properly. Also added an XML Utilities panel to the demos. Some of the news entries below may be duplicates; I lost my place in my records. If so please ignore the duplicates and skip to the new stuff.

1.24.2014
Added new tool creation methods to MathEngine. Added AWT-filtering parameter to CapCom.installStandardObject().
Added holder class for graph paper generators. This separates AWT components from CapCom, just in case I develop MathTools for Android.... read more

MathTools_1402082218

Tutorials_1402082219

Well, here they are. I've added a couple of convenience methods to the tools and a perspective grid generator to the graph paper. I'm tossing around the idea of a FreeMat graphing implementation but I'm not a FreeMat expert so it may be a while, if ever.

I've also corrected a few more typos in the tutorials and the javadoc, but I'm sure some old favorites are still there. (Dang! I meant to fix that...)... read more

At LAST!!! One of my 'other projects' finally came to fruition!

www.amazon.com/author/jamescoxjr

The book is 'A Pattern of Details' and it's science fiction. Yes, I'm very proud of it!

The Graph Paper Tutorial is here!!!
The Graph Paper Tutorial is here!!!

The shiny new graph paper generator tutorial is complete! It is 'Tut_GraphPaper.pdf' in the tutorials package. I've also put some extras in the sample scripts folder including a PDF of the blood pressure/blood sugar sheet.

As of now I consider the tutorial package complete. I have other projects calling but MathTools and its tutorials are still alive and thriving. I'm thinking about adding a few bits and pieces to MFraction and I'm also thinking about a CapCom Shelf manipulation panel. It's still in the pre-alpha stage, though, so stay tuned for further developments. One thing I will be doing is continuing to proofread ALL of the tutorials. If you find a typo you can let me know in the discussion area.... read more

Lots of cumulative changes with this release. Debugged some graph paper generators, added java.util.logging.* to CapCom and created a flexible automatic version code and timestamp generator to Question.

Also corrected typos in demo tutorial. LOTS of typos. Haven't posted new version yet, still proofing, but will soon. Did a bit more on graph paper tutorial but it's going slowly.

This may be it for a while, other projects still cooking, but will continue on this as able.... read more

BIG THINGS are in the wind. Several more graph paper generators but more importantly MathEngine.parseRPN now has a store and recall capability based on CapCom's Shelf. A number can be stored and recalled later, either in the same calculation or in a different one. Yes! The memory persists after the method returns.

In other news:

11.14.2013 (very early in the AM)
Sometimes a blinding flash of brilliance strikes, painful for its delay. Added convenience methods to GraphPanel to assist in pizza management. Will retrofit soon. -sigh-
Added offset quad generator to GraphPanel. If I said that before I'm saying it again!... read more

Just got an idea for a new core tool. I'll probably be working on it for a while. I'll also be updating tutorials. Not sure if I've posted the latest scripting tutorial so I (re-) posted what I have. Is good to have inspiration back but not enough hours in the day for all of it!

11.5.2013
Added FORMAT_STANDARD and several real-part tokens to MComplex format() method.
Deprecated 'iKaPow' methods and changed them to just 'kaPow'.... read more

GRRRrrrrrrRRRRRrrr... I HATE finding subtle bugs. But I'm glad when I do. MEquation reversed-equation MathML relation embedding works properly now. Grr...

Also working on Demo tutorial. It's kinda slow but I'm working on it steadily.

11.3.2013
Added random generation methods to MathStat. Allows quick generation of instances.
Added method to generate random regression instance.
Updated scripting tutorial for random MathStat methods.... read more

Wow. This may be a new record for quickest release that didn't involve correcting a bug! I'm really excited over this version: I've upgraded it to 'Stable 1.6 beta' because of the MAJOR addition to the core tools: MComplex.

The MComplex class provides formatting and basic manipulation of imaginary and complex numbers. It is mostly a formatting class but it does have some other useful methods. As of now I haven't updated the tutorial but that's coming soon.... read more

This is mostly a cosmetic release with a few corrections to the javadoc and some additional MEquation.Equations. Major change: now MEquation allows nasty equations as well as nice ones. The tutorial is also updated content-wise and correct-typos-wise. Once again 'I think MathTools is where I want it to be so there probably won't be any major changes for a while.' Usually when I say that I instantly think of something new to add, so let's hope!... read more

Whew! This is it for a while. The LaTeX package is finished until I get some feedback and I think all the other methods are good to go. I also fixed a few typos in the tutorial and in the javadoc. As of now all previously-deprecated methods are GONE, GONE, GONE!!!

There's a LaTeX picture environment demo script in the tutorial scripts folder but it doesn't have a corresponding example in the tutorial itself. It started life as a test script for the LaPicture class and just kind of developed into a demo.... read more

Okay. It's about 4 hours since I posted the latest release and deleted the previous one. It's still 'pending' so please be patient.

The 'b' releases of MathTools and the Tutorial were a (so far vain) attempt to get a new download link established.

LaTeX is here to stay. After working with the initial plunge I've added the markup.latex.* package. As of now it is minimal and will remain so but I will be adding some features as they are requested or (imo) needed. The intent with this package is 'just enough' LaTeX to allow basic test and worksheet formatting. It is NOT the end-all, be-all LaTeX implementation!

The tutorial is also updated for the LaTeX markup package and I did attach a minor version number. Not sure I like it but there it is. As far as individual changes, not too many of those.... read more

Major changes are in the wind. I've taken the initial plunge into LaTeX so expect more of it in the next release. I've also still got other projects going so I'm still dividing my time. I fixed a few bugs, added a few methods and started small with LaTeX.

The next stable beta will have deprecated methods gone so pay attention! I also updated the Tutorial; I'm keeping its version number the same as the stable release version (1.5 now) and may add a sub-version number if I have to do much with it.... read more

Whew! Phew, wow, waahhhhh! The new release AND TUTORIAL are finally here! There have been quite a few changes in the MathTools tools. Most are minor but some are major. Still, they operate pretty much as before, but more optimized for scripting.

The tutorial surprised me. It turned from (the idea of a) simple 10-20 page HOWTO into a 106-page monstrosity! The zip contains both the tutorial and plenty of sample scripts. Enjoy!... read more

Still working on other things. Tutorial is on hold for now but I'll work on it as soon as I am able. Still looking for feedback on MathTools; if you're using it please leave something in Discussion boards!

Along with other stuff I'm trying to put together a better tutorial for here. Dont' know when it will be ready but will post when it is. Keep checking.

11-27-2012

Improved Arithmetic.toWords() methods. They work better and the String-based method will work on arbitrarily large numbers.