GETTING STARTED PRIMERS

tutorials
Calculating with Variables

This worksheet lets you practice calculating results based on variables you
have defined. Then, you can practice modifying your variable values and
watching your calculations update automatically.

Practice
Calculating a result based on one or more variables:
Type: See:

x:2 x := 2

Type: See:
2
y:x^2 [Spacebar] -1 y := x - 1

Type: See:

y= y=3

Try it!
Type: See:

distance:1356ft distance := 1356ft

Type: See:
distance
rate.1:distance/42.4s rate1 :=
42.4s
Type: See:
m
rate.1= rate1 = 9.748
s
Try it! Tip: Mathcad uses scientific units (SI)
as the default unit. You can change the
default unit system under Tools >
Worksheet Options.

Type: See:

d:39 and b:52 d := 39 b := 52

Type: See:
2 2
k:\d^2 [Spacebar]+b^2 k := d +b

Type: See:

k= k = 65

Try it!
Modifying a Variable to Update a Result

Click the right side of this definition.

Backspace over 1, type 3, and press
[Enter].

time1 := 1hr

Watch this calculation update:

50m m
= 0.014
time1 s

Change losses from 3 to 4 and press

[Enter].

wins := 11

losses := 3

Watch this calculation update:

wins 11
=
losses + wins 14
Change 10m to 12m and press [Enter].

length1 := 10m
Change the width from 30m to 31.6m.

width := 30m

Watch this calculation update:

Area := length1  width

2
Area = 300 m

Change 2.9m to 3m.

height := 2.9m

Watch this calculation update:
Volume := Area  height
Volume = 870000 L
Tip: Notice that this definition uses
definitions already given above. When
you calculate a result, you can use any
variable or definition above or to the left
of the calculation.

You can use symbolic calculation to see the substituted values in an

expression before it's evaluated:
3
height  Area explicit , Area , height  2.9  m  length1  width = 870  m