Maths Programs Ver 0.1
======================

The following programs should be included in Maths Programs Ver 0.1

PYTHAG1.EXE     Pythagoras Theorem I
PYTHAG2.EXE     Pythagoras Theorem II
SIMUL.EXE       Simultaneous Equations I
EXPAND1.EXE     Quadratic Expansion I
EXPAND2.EXE     Quadratic Expansion II
README.TXT      This file
GOTH.CHR        Support File
LITT.CHR        Support File
SANS.CHR        Support File
TRIP.CHR        Support File
EGAVGA.BGI      Support File

Overview
========

These programs were written because of the lack of maths review
programs for the IBM PC Compatible computer and in particular for 
high school level students.  There are many programs available for 
beginning maths such as basic addition, subtraction, multiplication
and division of which most are very good but for the higher level
maths there is very little.  If anyone knows of good mathematics
programs which teach subjects like algebra, geometry, trigonometry and
similar level material I would be interested to hear from them.

The concept used in these programs is that the user enters the answer
to the problem in the context of that problem.  Most maths programs cause
you to enter the answer on the bottom of the screen after some form of 
answer prompt.  These programs do not do this.  For instance in the 
pythagoras programs the user enters the answer on the actual 
triangle itself.

These programs are essentially maths drill in nature and are intended
for maths review rather than teaching.  In my opinion teaching is more 
effectively taught from text books rather than computer programs anyway.
This is unless the program incorporates a large multimedia component 
such as appropriate animation, sound and speech.  For those programs 
which I have seen which do incorporate a large multimedia component the 
subject area in which they cover is very small and they are generally very
expensive.  This is necessarily so because of the huge effort 
involved in creating them.

PYTHAG 1 and 2
==============

PYTHAG1 reviews the pythagoras theorem and its use in calculating the
longest side given the other two sides of a right angled triangle.
PYTHAG2 gives the longest side and the bottom side and asks you to
calculate the remaining side.  Both programs expect rounding to be performed
to 1 decimal place.  So if the user calculates the answer to be 12.36 then
they should enter 12.4 as the answer.  12.3 would in this case be
incorrect.  Both these programs display the formula to be used with an 
example problem which are both continuously displayed on the screen 
along with the problem to be worked.


EXPAND 1 and 2
==============

EXPAND1 reviews problems of the form (x+4)(x+6).  I have just used 
4 and 6 here as an example but different positive integers are used 
each time.  Part of the answer is displayed and the user is to fill 
in the blanks.  

EXPAND2 reviews problems of the form (x-5)(x-2).  Again I have just used
5 and 2 as example numbers and different numbers are selected for each
problem.

Invalid user entry could be caught better by these programs but I intend
to fix this for the next release.

SIMUL
=====

Solve two linear simultaneous equations with y coefficients identical in
magnitude and opposite in sign.  I have found that one of the biggest 
problems with students solving simultaneous equations is that they do
not know how to handle positive and negative signs.  An error made early 
on in the problem leads to a wrong answer at the end.  This program prevents 
this by guiding the user through the problem forcing a correct answer at 
every step.


===== Distribution ======================================

These programs are released by me as freeware.  I am releasing them as such
because I want to find out what interest there are in these sort of 
programs.  If you continue to use any of these programs on a regular basis 
please send me a postcard.  This will encourage me to write further
programs.  Send it to:

                        Glenn Reed
                        109 Burns St,
                        CAMBRIDGE.
                        NEW ZEALAND.


===== Bugs, Comments, Suggestions and Support ========================

If you wish to contact me for any reason my preferred method of contact
is by internet e-mail.  My e-mail address is joe90@wave.co.nz


===== Disclaimer =========================================

I shall not assume  any direct or indirect  responsibility for
losses  incurred  from  the  use  of these maths programs. These
programs  are  offered  "as-is"  with  no  guarantees   attached.
Considering the methods by  which shareware/public  domain  
software  is  distributed, any number of things can happen to  
the integrity of the program  or files on this disk.

THIS SOFTWARE AND MANUAL ARE PROVIDED FOR EVALUATION ONLY, ON AN "AS IS"
BASIS.  I HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THIS
SOFTWARE, WHETHER EXPRESSED  OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. NEITHER MYSELF NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE 
CREATION, PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF THIS SOFTWARE SHALL
BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING
OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE SUCH SOFTWARE, EVEN IF I 
HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR CLAIMS.
THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND
PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.

