Getting started with KAlgebra
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KAlgebra is a calculator with symbolic and analysis features that lets you plot 2D and 3D functions as well as to easily calculate mathematical expressions.
The Console Tab
When you first open KAlgebra a blank window shows up, this is the main work area for calculus.
Let's get started with a little example of how KAlgebra works, just type:
2+2
Then type Enter and KAlgebra will show you the result. So far it's easy.
However, KAlgebra is much more powerful than that. It started as a simple calculator, but now it's almost a CAS.
You can define variables this way:
k:=3
And use them normally:
k*4
And that will give you the result:
12
You can also define functions:
f:=x->x^2
And then use them:
f(3)
Which should return
9.
You can define a function with as many variables as you want:
g:=(x,y)->x*y
The possibilities of defining functions are endless if you combine this with the piecewise function. Let's define the factor function:
fact:=n->piecewise { n=0 ? 1, n=1 ? 1, ? n*fact(n-1) }
Yes! KAlgebra supports recursive functions. Give some values to n, to test it.
fact(5) fact(3)
KAlgebra has recently started support for symbolic operations, to check it out, just type:
x+x+x+x
or
x*x
It doesn't work on some complex structures, though. Only basic support so far.
Moreover, KAlgebra has support for differentiation. An example of the syntax:
diff(x^2:x)
If you have used KAlgebra, you will have noticed the syntax completion support, which is very helpful.
Another resource that can be useful to learn more about KAlgebra comes with KAlgebra: The tab
It contains examples of every function supported by KAlgebra. Maybe this is the best way to learn how to do things with KAlgebra.