>
>
> Most mathematics programs you have ever worked with have likely
> been little more than fancy calculators with maybe some useful
> extras, like a graphing package attached. These programs are great
> for playing with numbers and graphing specific equations, but that's
> about it. SyMan, on the other hand, does all of the things these
> standard programs do, but it goes one step further: SyMan knows
> algebra.
>
>
SyMan is what academic-types call a "symbolic manipulator." This means
that SyMan is basically an algebraic word-processor. You can enter
just about any algebraic expression, and then manipulate it in just
about any way you please. For example, you can enter the equation "6x
+ 7 = -x + 14" and eventually work it into the form "x = 1". SyMan
takes care of moving all the symbols around correctly, and all you
have to do is tell it to do things like "add x," "subtract 7," and
"divide 7."
Just as a word processor allows you to freely rearrange your words and
experiment with different ways of expressing your ideas, so too does
SyMan allow you to easily manipulate and explore mathematical
expressions and concepts. SyMan does not absolve you of the need for
mathematical understanding and intelligence; it simply takes care of
the drudgery of moving numbers and variables around on the page. With
SyMan you can finally concentrate on the mathematics of a problem,
rather than the algebra and arithmetic. And isn't that why it's called
"mathematics?"
