NAME

pmath - simple command line interface to Math::Cephes

SYNOPSIS

  bash> pmath
 Interactive interface to the Math::Cephes module.
 TermReadLine enabled. Type 'help' or '?'  for help.
 pmath> setprec 4
         display set to 4 decimal places
 pmath> cos($PI)
         -1.0000
 pmath> acos(%)
          3.1416
 pmath> q
 bash>

DESCRIPTION

This script provides a simple command line interface to the "Math::Cephes" module. If available, it will use the "Term::ReadKey" and "Term::ReadLine::Perl" or "Term::ReadLine::GNU" modules to provide command line history and word completion.

Typing "help" or "?" alone will provide a list of help topics grouped by major category name. "help category" will provide a listing and short description of each function within the named category. "help function" will provide a description and synopsis of the named function.

Entering an expression that returns a single value, such as sin($x), or one that returns multiple values, such as airy($x), will result in all return values being printed. The last (successful) single value returned is saved as the "%" symbol (as in Maple), so that one can do

     pmath> sin($PI/2)
            1
     pmath> asin(%)
            1.570796
     pmath>

The number of decimal places displayed can be set to "j" using "setprec j":

     pmath> setprec 8
             display set to 8 decimal places
     pmath> $PI
             3.14159265
     pmath>

Multiple statements can be entered on a line, such as
pmath> $x=1; $y=exp($x); printf("\texp(%5.2f)=%5.2f\n",$x,$y);
exp( 1.00)= 2.72
pmath>

or on multiple lines using "\" as a continuation signal:

    pmath> $x = 1; \
           $y = exp($x); \
            printf("exp(%5.2f)=%5.2f\n", $x, $y);
             exp( 1.00)= 2.72
    pmath>

To quit the program, enter "q", "quit", or "exit".

The "Math::Cephes" module has some support for handling fractions and complex numbers through the "Math::Cephes::Fraction" and "Math::Cephes::Complex" modules. For fractions, one can use the fract() function to create a fraction object, and then use these in a fraction routine:

    pmath> $f=fract(1,3); $g=fract(4,3); $f->radd($g);
            5/3
    pmath> mixed(%)
            1 2/3
    pmath>

Similarly, for complex numbers one can use the cmplx() function to create a complex number object, and then use these in a complex number routine:

    pmath> $f=cmplx(1,3); $g=cmplx(4,3); $f->cadd($g);
            5+6 i
    pmath>

See Math::Cephes::Polynomial for an interface to some polynomial routines, and Math::Cephes::Matrix for some matrix routines.

BUGS

Probably. Please report any to Randy Kobes <randy@theoryx5.uwinnipeg.ca>

SEE ALSO

Math::Cephes, Math::Cephes::Fraction, Math::Cephes::Complex, Math::Cephes::Polynomial and Math::Cephes::Matrix.

COPYRIGHT

This script is copyrighted, 2000, 2002, by Randy Kobes. It may be distributed under the same terms as Perl itself.