PMATH(1) User Contributed Perl Documentation PMATH(1)NAMEpmath - simple command line interface to Math::Cephes
SYNOPSIS
bash> pmath
Interactive interface to the Math::Cephes module.
TermReadLine enabled. Type 'help' or '?' for help.
pmath> setprec 4
display set to 4 decimal places
pmath> cos($PI)
-1.0000
pmath> acos(%)
3.1416
pmath> q
bash>
DESCRIPTION
This script provides a simple command line interface to the
"Math::Cephes" module. If available, it will use the "Term::ReadKey"
and "Term::ReadLine::Perl" or "Term::ReadLine::GNU" modules to provide
command line history and word completion.
Typing "help" or "?" alone will provide a list of help topics grouped
by major category name. "help category" will provide a listing and
short description of each function within the named category. "help
function" will provide a description and synopsis of the named
function.
Entering an expression that returns a single value, such as "sin($x)",
or one that returns multiple values, such as "airy($x)", will result in
all return values being printed. The last (successful) single value
returned is saved as the "%" symbol (as in Maple), so that one can do
pmath> sin($PI/2)
1
pmath> asin(%)
1.570796
pmath>
The number of decimal places displayed can be set to "j" using "setprec
j":
pmath> setprec 8
display set to 8 decimal places
pmath> $PI
3.14159265
pmath>
Multiple statements can be entered on a line, such as
pmath> $x=1; $y=exp($x); printf("\texp(%5.2f)=%5.2f\n",$x,$y);
exp( 1.00)= 2.72
pmath>
or on multiple lines using "\" as a continuation signal:
pmath> $x = 1; \
$y = exp($x); \
printf("exp(%5.2f)=%5.2f\n", $x, $y);
exp( 1.00)= 2.72
pmath>
To quit the program, enter "q", "quit", or "exit".
The "Math::Cephes" module has some support for handling fractions and
complex numbers through the "Math::Cephes::Fraction" and
"Math::Cephes::Complex" modules. For fractions, one can use the
"fract()" function to create a fraction object, and then use these in a
fraction routine:
pmath> $f=fract(1,3); $g=fract(4,3); $f->radd($g);
5/3
pmath> mixed(%)
1 2/3
pmath>
Similarly, for complex numbers one can use the "cmplx()" function to
create a complex number object, and then use these in a complex number
routine:
pmath> $f=cmplx(1,3); $g=cmplx(4,3); $f->cadd($g);
5+6 i
pmath>
See Math::Cephes::Polynomial for an interface to some polynomial
routines, and Math::Cephes::Matrix for some matrix routines.
BUGS
Probably. Please report any to Randy Kobes
<randy@theoryx5.uwinnipeg.ca>
SEE ALSO
Math::Cephes, Math::Cephes::Fraction, Math::Cephes::Complex,
Math::Cephes::Polynomial and Math::Cephes::Matrix.
COPYRIGHT
This script is copyrighted, 2000, 2002, by Randy Kobes. It may be
distributed under the same terms as Perl itself.
perl v5.20.2 2012-10-23 PMATH(1)
