Software Reviews Author(s): L. Carl Leinbach and Rosemary Hirschfelder Source: The College Mathematics Journal, Vol.

17, No. 1 (Jan., 1986), pp. 90-91 Published by: Mathematical Association of America Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2686879 . Accessed: 21/11/2013 07:21
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The Calculus Toolkit, Ross L. Finney et. al. Addison-Wesley (Reading, MA) 1984. Contents: 4 diskettes withbackup copies fortheApple II family, 48K; one user manual,312 pp. Cost: $350. The Calculus Toolkitis a collectionof 27 programs which can be used in the classroomto illustrate sessionsto amplify material conceptsor as thebasis forlaboratory beingcoveredin class. The programs are applicable in several courses fromprecalculus,continuingthroughsingle and multiplevariable differential calculus, to introductory equations and possibly some topics in advanced calculus. A mathematician professional may even findthe Toolkitusefulas a "scratchpad" whileworking. of varying The Toolkitcontains programsfor graphingfunctions, with the effects experimenting withinfamiliesof functions, parameters plottingsurfacesin space, and exploringthe limitconcept a graphic delta-epsilonprogram,a functiontabulationprogram,or a CAI-style interactive through evaluationprogram. Otherprograms of the Riemann sum concept,evaluate give graphicalillustrations definite and graph solutionsto differential but it integrals, equations.This list is far fromexhaustive, the scope of the package. The majority illustrates of the programs include graphicaldisplays,though some programs, such as integral numerical.Graphics is used whereit can be evaluators,are strictly such as plotting withthefunction in theTaylorseriesprogram, and effective, partialsum approximations is not used whenit adds nothing to the presentation. The Toolkitdoes not requireany previousexperiencewitha computer. The only computing skills needed are bootinga disk and usingBASIC syntaxto enterthe expression fora function. The manual assistsin thiswitha briefappendixon function and the program accepts the constants pi expressions, and e. The interactive is verywell thought out and the manual is invaluable sequence foreach program to thenoviceuser.The screenlayoutsare neat and theauthors forsavingpictures on provideinstructions a disk,producing hardcopy,or makinga "slide show." Numericalprograms have theoptionof printing the results on a printer. No worthwhile of programs; it musthave a manual thatcan support and package is onlya collection Its user The Toolkitfar surpassesthis minimumrequirement. guide the user throughthe programs. manual is carefullyplanned and pedagogicallysound. Each program'schapter startswith a brief of the program,continueswith a carefuldiscussionof the mathematical concept being description takes the user on a step-by-step some of its uses, and tour of the program,illustrates illustrated, thattestthe user'smastery I particularly liked concludeswithexercises of theconceptusingthe Toolkit. the discussionof the limitations of Newton's methodat the end of the discussionof the Root Finding who assigna program Instructors fromthe Toolkitas a laboratory program. projectshould requirethat the students read theassociatedsectionof the manual. Firstof all, it is Obviously,I like the package, but how do I rank it withothercalculus software? The materialis so richthatI may neveruse some programs in the package; extremely comprehensive. but my decision is based on the subject matter,not the method of presentation. The package is and if I werelookingfora package to do graphicsillustrations in a singlevariablecalculus expensive, course alone, I would favorCONDUIT'S ARBPLOT (reviewedin this Journal,March 1984) for its and price.On the otherhand, theARBPLOT manual,though well written, dynamicgraphics extremely does not have the mathematical discussionsand exercisesfoundin the Toolkit.If you want a classy, calculus package, then the Toolkitwill meet your needs. Eitherpackage meets Richard wide-ranging "The goal of computation is understanding, not numbers." Hamming'scriterion: L. Carl Leinbach Gettysburg College

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EQUATIONS, BINOMIAL MULTIPLICATION, GRAPHING LINEAR EQUATIONS, SOLVING QUA? DRATIC EQUATIONS, FACTORING ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS, and SIMULTANEOUS LINEAR EQUATIONS, Don Ross and/or Mark Berman.Microcomputer Workshops(Port Chester,NY) 1982, forthe Apple II family, sheetof 83, 84. Each containsone diskette 48K, DOS 3.3, and an information one to fivepages. Cost foreach is $24.95 to $29.95; available as a set for$150. Some are also available forothermicrocomputers. This set of programs fora coursein beginning level; the providesdrillmaterials algebraat thesecondary last threedisks may also be used in a second algebra course. Their level may also be appropriate for remedialcollege work. The disks are sold separately,so each will be discussed individually and a of the whole set will thenbe given. summary EQUATIONS is the lowest-level package in thisset. Its purposeis to give students practicesolving AX + B = C whereA, B, and C are integers. mustbe solvedusinga The problems equationsof theform method.Messages in responseto unacceptedinputare not alwaysclear,and correct verylimited inputis not always accepted. BINOMIAL MULTIPLICATION providesdrillin multiplying binomialsusing the FOIL method. use integer coefficients thechoice of The problems and either variables.A menuoffers one, two,or three an explanationof FOIL, or problems.The explanationof FOIL is veryclear and uses instructions, forthe distributive and commutative laws (though graphicsverynicely,showingFOIL to be a shortcut its relationship the menu withthe distributive law is hard to follow).Afterthe problemsare finished, reappears. GRAPHING LINEAR EQUATIONS uses excellentgraphicsto give studentspracticegraphing many formsof linear equations. The programpresentsan equation; the studentmust choose three X between ? 10 and 10 whose ^-values are in the same range(this can be difficult; withthe integers mustthenmove thecursor equation IX + 5 Y = ? 1 only0, 5, and ?5 can be used forX). The student to the appropriatepoints on the coordinateplane, with sound clues if desired. This is a good and enjoyabledrillforstudents needinghelp in graphing. SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS gives studentspractice in solving such equations by It has a veryclear explanation but of finding factors and is suitablefordrillor remedialwork, factoring. does not serveas an introduction to the subject.Again, the solutionmethodsaccepted by the program with the studentis inconsistent. A summaryof the errorson each are limited,and the interaction is givenaftereach session. solved and a total numberof errors problemis given afterit is completely linear FACTORING ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS proviesgood basic drillmaterialon factoring of varioussorts.Beyond the usual clear directions, and quadraticexpressions Help (H) and Solution(S) does not provide optionsare also available at all times.This is a nice feature, thoughHelp sometimes This package differs fromall the othersin that the user moves the cursorto the usefulinformation. correctscreen position and then entersan item. For example, the expressionX2 + 2X ? 35 shows is not perfect, (A"+ 1)(X ? 5) on the screenwith the cursorpositionedat the arrow.This interaction of 1 are not accepted forX, and the + or ? sign mustbe enteredimmediately however;coefficients aftertheX. The Solutionoptionproceedsby a methodof trialand error. While thisis clear,it can take some timeforcertainexpressions. Finally,SIMULTANEOUS LINEAR EQUATIONS gives studentspracticein solvingsystemsof to the subject, a variable.This is again not an introduction two equationsby the methodof eliminating the stepsneeded is takenat a slow pace through but providesgood drillor remedialwork.The student fora solution,and at the end of each problema graphicsolutionis displayed.There are a couple of withthe package: the instruction and inaccurate, and when the program sheetis incomplete difficulties without ends thereis no way to runanything rebooting. Each drillexceptforthefewgraphics Overall,thisset of algebrapackagesprovidesroutine highlights. sheets are incompleteand provides clear directionsin the programitself,though the information are sometimes inaccurate. Thereare also some inconsistencies betweenthedisksin theway theprograms feelsthatexceptforthegraphicsin the Simultaneous Linear Equations and Graphing run.The reviewer no advantageover paper and Linear Equations programs, usingthispackage to practicealgebra offers pencil. RosemaryHirschfelder of Puget Sound University

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