MathCAD Substitution Limitation? ARGHHH!
MathCAD Substitution Limitation? ARGHHH!
(OP)
Howdie all.
I have a frustrating issue with MathCAD. I don't use it that often so there may be an easy way around this, but I have not been able to find a solution. In MathCAD, you can replace all instances of a variable by using the substitute modifier in the Symbolics toolbar. The key there seems to be "variable", not a COLLECTION of variables or terms in a big equation. For instance, I have this huge equation with a zillion x^2 terms in it. (x) just happens to equal +-1. Therefore I want to replace all of the x^2 terms with "1", simplify and have a much smaller equation overall. Problem is, MathCAD won't let me replace all of the "x^2" terms with "1" all at once. My only option is to use the clipbaord and replace each instance by hand. What a drag.
Thanks everybody,
treddie
I have a frustrating issue with MathCAD. I don't use it that often so there may be an easy way around this, but I have not been able to find a solution. In MathCAD, you can replace all instances of a variable by using the substitute modifier in the Symbolics toolbar. The key there seems to be "variable", not a COLLECTION of variables or terms in a big equation. For instance, I have this huge equation with a zillion x^2 terms in it. (x) just happens to equal +-1. Therefore I want to replace all of the x^2 terms with "1", simplify and have a much smaller equation overall. Problem is, MathCAD won't let me replace all of the "x^2" terms with "1" all at once. My only option is to use the clipbaord and replace each instance by hand. What a drag.
Thanks everybody,
treddie





RE: MathCAD Substitution Limitation? ARGHHH!
RE: MathCAD Substitution Limitation? ARGHHH!
MathCAD's help forgot to mention to move the insertion point to the end of the expression, before proceeding. Makes all the difference in the world. But now I have a super long (albeit, simplified) result to the left of the super long original. Why won't MathCAD just put the result doen below like it does for "Simplify", "Collect", etc.?
Tip to MathCAD. Why not just modify the damn Find/Replace dialog to have the ability to accept math expressions as MathCAD types them, and have the option to "find within selection" like vb does?! I guess that would be too simple.
Dim bulbs...
RE: MathCAD Substitution Limitation? ARGHHH!
The expression is too long for MathCAD to do its stuff. Yet I can go in by using the clipboard and replace anything I want instantaneously, one by one. Why the hell can't MathCAD just do the friggin replacements all at once without trying to evaluate the whole damn thing?!!! MathCAD says the result is too large for it to display. WHAT DO YOU MEAN, TOO LARGE??!!!! It's SMALLER than the original!!!! If it's too large to display each side by side THEN PUT THE RESULT DOWN BELOW DIM WITS!!!!
God, I hate stupid programmers!
RE: MathCAD Substitution Limitation? ARGHHH!
so you can substitute a+b=c into (a+b)^2 to get c^2, but can't do a+b=c into (a+b+x)^2 because + is what the call n-ary. We gave a 2-ary plus to swap with a 3-ary plus and it don't go!
You can then ask (on ethe same line) for the live symbolics to simplify the equation to get a smaller result.
The meaning of 'Large' result is something that isn't always appreciated - some symbolic results can get very very long and basically would break the display part (tioo many characters to process). But all the info is still available in the assigned variable and on the clip board (though you need to distinguish live/dymanic symbolics from the static/menu symbolics).
definately worth posting on the MathCAD collaboratory as you can show the real file etc. and there are lots of experts reading.
http://collab.mathsoft.com/~Mathcad2000
Philip
RE: MathCAD Substitution Limitation? ARGHHH!
Sorry for the delay.
By reffering to "live" symbolics, do you mean by typing in the "substitute" keyword?
treddie
RE: MathCAD Substitution Limitation? ARGHHH!
TTFN
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RE: MathCAD Substitution Limitation? ARGHHH!
RE: MathCAD Substitution Limitation? ARGHHH!
TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: MathCAD Substitution Limitation? ARGHHH!
I meant actually 3 things.
1.) MathCAD needs to modify the standard Windows "Find & Replace" with it's own version of the action. Having a conventional Windows "F&R" inside of an "unconventional" program that can not use that function for all instances is pretty sloppy programming.
2.) Using the "substitute" keyword just adds extra steps that could be done away with, by using a MathCAD "F&R".
3.) When using the "substitute" keyword, MathCAD automatically simplifies the result when you don't want it to. In other words, it's not doing a "substitute", it's doing a "substitute AND simplify" and there does not appear to be any way around it. This is annoying because if you are trying to show the progression of a derivation as you are solving it, showing a simple substitution is sometimes important to show without simplifying it at the same time, so that the work progression is easier to follow. This is REALLY important, because there are many simplifications that MathCAD can not possibly know about; It doesn't know the meaning of the variables, so often times I will do my own simplifications and substitutions along with MathCAD's help when I need it to do something quicker. So the last thing I want MathCAD to do is to second guess me and go off doing simplifications, when I need it to do just what I'm telling it to do, and nothing else. Again, sloppy programming.
RE: MathCAD Substitution Limitation? ARGHHH!
Another related feature would be to have a semi auto mode where I can mulitply the top and bottom of a fracton by a number or do something to both sides of an equation. I would like this to work like the substitute command. I would like to be able to type in a +,-,*,/ and the experession that would be applied to the top and bottom of a fraction or to both side of an polynomial. I am smarter than Mathcad at seeing patterns most of the time. A semi auto mode would allow me to control the optimizing sequence but hopefully the Mathcad would keep me from making stupid errors.
RE: MathCAD Substitution Limitation? ARGHHH!
Let's hope MathCAD is listening to us all. I worry though, when they're at version 14 and still doing things the way they did back in v3.
RE: MathCAD Substitution Limitation? ARGHHH!
Also you can have multiple substitutions together, use the Ctrl+shift+. to get a second place holder below to add in more stuff. The vertical line is thinner than the programming line.
Philip
PS I'm just rading Cohen's Computer Algebra books at the moment (look at Biblio.com for a low cost supplier) which gives some insights into the world of symbolics and the obvious answers that are actually untrue/incomplete.