Rearranging terms as with HP48GX

[XcasEngGuy]

Hello,

Thank you for including me in this forum.

I have been using xcas for a while and was wondering if there is a way to rearrange terms as was possible in the HP48GX. Moving terms and collecting on subexpressions to achieve a desired form for a solution.

Any suggestions?
Thank you in advance
Matt

[parisse]

Yes, you can rearrange terms interactively inside an expression editor. For more information, please look at the Expression editor section in the interface help manual (Help->Interface in xcas or open file:///usr/share/giac/doc/en/casinter/node6.html under linux/ add local after usr for mac, c:\xcas\doc\en\casinter\node6.html under windows)

[XcasEngGuy]

I looked at the expression editor. I am not sure how to put an existing expression or equation into the editor. Also, I was looking for the ability to rearrange terms, distribute into a parenthesis, swap terms etc. In the HP48 you have a lot of freedom to merge terms, move terms, swap, etc. It appears that using normal or factor on a selected subexpression is most of it. I appears more adapted to entering equations.

I hope this makes sense.

Matt

[parisse]

You can paste an existing equation with Ctrl-C/Ctrl-V. Then up-arrow to select it, and you can re-arrange it. You can apply any command (taking one argument) from the main menu, it is not limited to those from the M menu of the expression editor. If you want to swap terms, select one, use Ctrl-left or right arrow.

[XcasEngGuy]

You can paste an existing equation with Ctrl-C/Ctrl-V. Then up-arrow to select it, and you can re-arrange it. You can apply any command (taking one argument) from the main menu, it is not limited to those from the M menu of the expression editor. If you want to swap terms, select one, use Ctrl-left or right arrow.

When I paste in an equation using Ctrl-C it appears to be entered as a string (it has a double quote at the beginning) and any operation yields an error message "bad argument".

[parisse]

If you are in string mode, press the " key, it will come back to normal mode.

[XcasEngGuy]

Is there a way to change an normal entry line to an expression editor line (without creating a new expression editor line and pasting in?)

I hope that was clear

[parisse]

No, not currently. The shortest path is Ctrl-A, Ctrl-C, Alt-E, Ctrl-V, downarrow, "

[XcasEngGuy]

I understand the expression editor now. The editor in the HP48 could distribute a multiplier into a quantity, invert, move parentheses etc. I had wished for that. It would need to operate on equations that were the result of other operations like solve or subst.

I find I am using XCAS more and more. The combination of XCAS and Octave makes a powerful tool for modeling and other engineering tasks.

Thank you.