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"Free OnLine Dictionary Of Computing " (FOLDOC) defines SymbMath as "Symbolic math package, which can learn new facts."
SymbMath
(Java™ Edition) is web-based symbolic math and computer algebra system,
which runs in any computer with Java™ technology. You can play it online.
SymbMath
(DOS Edition) is computer algebra system.
A list of software review is on the web page of Publication.
ZDNet.com reviewed SymbMath (DOS Edition)
"SymbMath (short for symbolic mathematics) is a calculator for solving
symbolic math problems. It is an expert system that can perform exact
numeric, symbolic, and graphic computations, and it can learn from the
user's input. It manipulates complicated formulas and returns answers
in terms of symbols, formulas, exact numbers, tables, and graphs.
If the user inputs a single formula without writing any code, the
program will automatically learn many problems related to that formula."
ZDNet.com reviewed SymbMath (Java™ Edition)
"This application is an online symbolic math and computer algebra
system, powered by SymbMath. It can perform exact, numeric, symbolic,
and graphic computations and includes arbitrary-precision calculation,
equation solving, plot data and user-defined functions, linear
regression, symbolic differentiation, and integration."
The magazine "Australian PC World", June 1992, page 119, reviewed, "SymbMath 1.4 belongs in a more esoteric field, that
of symbolic mathematics. If you've ever had need for programs such as
Maple or Mathematica, you'll know about symbolic mathematics, also called
algebraic computation or symbolic manipulation. SymbMath is a symbolic
calculator that can manipulate complicated formulas and return answers
in terms of symbols. It solves the same sort of problems as programs like
Mathematica, but still runs in 640 K of RAM as opposed to Mathematica's
4 Mb plus. Although SymbMath is still being added to, it has generated
interest in the scientific sections of some overseas electronic bulletin
boards, being one of the most frequently downloaded programs at some
monitored sites".
The "IEEE Micro" journal on February 1992, page 76, said"SymbMath, an expert system that solves mathematic problems in symbolic
formula or through numeric computation ... requires significantly less
RAM than most comparable software - 640 Kbytes, as opposed to as much as
4 Mbytes".
The "Australian PC World" magazine on 1993 July, page 147, reviewed "SymbMath 2.0 is a symbolic calculator that can
manipulate complicated formulas and return answers in term of symbols. It
solves the same sort of problems as programs such as Mathematica and Maple
(and some that they can't), yet runs within 640K of RAM."
"PC Plus", the June 1993 issue, page 281, reviewed SymbMath as follows.
SUPPLIER: Public Domain and Shareware Library
PHONE: (0892) 663298
FOR: Powerful maths functions
Automatically learns from user input Modest hardware requirements AGAINST: Needs advanced maths knowledge
PCPLUS VALUE VERDICT: xxx
REQUIREMENTS: MINIMUM HARDWARE: DRIVES: Hard disk, RAM: 640 Kb
* Mathematics whizzes should find SymbMath a capable facility for handling complex problems.
Symbmath, short for Symbolic Mathematics, is both an advanced
mathematical calculator and an expert system. Designed by Australian
Weiguang Huang for solving university and professional level symbolical
maths problems. Symbmath will also perform exact numerical
computation. It's able to manipulate extremely complicated formulae,
returning answers in terms of symbols, formulae, or exact numbers as
required. The program can learn from your calculations, automatically adding your problem-solving techniques to its repertoire: making it of
interest to artificial intelligence researchers as well as mathematicians,
particularly as you don't have to write any code.
Its capabilities are impressive, going well beyond the facilities
offered by rival programs. It's very fast and includes wide-ranging
and sophisticated routines for differentiation, integration, equation
solving, algebraic calculations, exact and floating point numerical
computation of numbers ranging from plus to minus infinity, and an ex-
tensive array of other advanced facilities that will be more than enough
to handle academic or practical mathematical problems of even extreme
complexity. Despite this extensive computing power, Symbmath will nevertheless run on very basic hardware: you need at least 640 Kb of RAM
and a hard disk, but an 8088-based PC with a monochrome monitor is ample for even very convoluted calculations. You'll need to be well-schooled in advanced maths but, if you are, you'll will find SymbMath, well worth investigating.
"Refections", Vol. 18, No. 2, May 1993, page58, reviewed SymbMath:
"An alternative for MS-DOS users which has the unique advantage of being `home grown', SymbMath is the only Australian-made computer algebra
system of which I am aware. SymbMath comes in three versions (shareware,
student and advanced), with corresponding increases in price and in
capabilities. The student version is reviewed here, and was found to be
a versatile and useful mathematical tool.
Like Maple on Macintosh, mathematical input must be entered in `computer syntax', but SymbMath (like Maple V and Derive) has the option
of two-dimensional output, which provides a reasonable approximation of
mathematical notation. Its capabilities are impressive, including a
`chemistry' option, in which it performs chemical calculations and
operates on chemical equations, and a unique ability to `learn' from the
user. Entering a rule for differentiation, for example, automatically
`teaches' the program how to integrate using that rule; trigonometric
identities and algebraic formulas can likewise be used as the basis for
inference.
At the same time, the programs provide more than adequate computer algebra capabilities, and represent excellent value for money."
"Chemistry in Australia" magazine, December 1993, page 665, reviewed:
"SymbMath 2.2 (an abbreviation for Symbolic Mathematics) is asoftware package for symbolic computation. It runs on IBM PC compatible
under DOS and requires only 420 Kbytes of memory. It is an integrated
software package with pull-down and pop-up menus, on-line help and on-
line manuals which make application easier. The diskette also contain a
detailed manual with many examples.
SymbMath performs both exact numerical computations and evaluatessymbolic formulae. The package has the capability of solving mathematical
expressions, simultaneous equations, limits, differentiation, integration,
sums and products etc. It is also a programming language working as an
interpreter with variety of types, loops, arrays, functions etc. which
enable writing of programs for solving of more complex mathematical
procedures. This also enables documentation of your calculations.
The package is very easy to apply. The user just needs to type the command for the required mathematical operation, and the expression(s).
Mathematical problems which usually require lots of calculation time can
be solved quickly.
SymbMath has the ability to deduce and expand its knowledge. Provided with necessary facts, the package may solve many problems that
they were unable to solve before e.g. integrals etc. There is a chemical
calculation package which is capable of stoichiometric calculations as
well as an inorganic reaction package which may provide answers for some
inorganic chemical reactions. It also performs plots of functions and
data and interface with other software.
Like the other software packages for symbolic mathematics e.g.Mathematica, MAPLE etc., SymbMath is suitable for performing calculations
of expressions, solving various mathematical problems, or performing
preliminary analysis before solving very complex mathematical problems.
The availability of such software has already had an impact on teaching
mathematics at universities and there will be more applications for such
packages in the future because they enable easy solution of diverse
mathematical problems. Compared with large packages like Mathematica
capable of solving very complex problems (which runs under Microsoft
Windows which itself require a very large memory), SymbMath has a big
advantage in that it requires very little memory, it is much easier to
learn and it is much less expensive. I would highly recommend the package
for anyone who uses mathematics in their work."
"IEEE Expert" on August 1993, Vol. 8, No. 4, page 99, reviewed:"SymbMath 2.2 is an expert system for solving symbolical math problems
and performing exact numeric computations. It can manipulate complicated
formulas and return answers in terms of symbols, formulas, and exact
numbers. It also learns from users; for instance, it can learn the
integrals of an unknown function from a derivatives of the function. The
shareware version is available from Simtel20 archives on anonymous FTP
sites (rana.cc.deakin.oz.au as /huang/sm22a.zip) or by e-mail from
listserv@vm1.nodak.edu or listserv@ndsum1.bitnet. Student and Advanced
versions are also available."
The "Australian PC World" magazine on 1994 July, page 257, reviewed "SymbMath - a symbolic calculator that can manipulate
complicated formulas and return answers in term of symbols
in the same category as more expensive programs such as Mathematica."
Newspapers "Campus Review" on July 7, 1994, page 12, publisheda review titled "Symbmaths is for serious numbers".
Newspapers "Uniken" on July 29, 1994, page 1, published half-page of an article titled "SymbMath program takes complex problems out of maths".
Magazine "Computer Market" on September 1994, page 39-40, said:"Dr Weiguang Huang, who is obviously something of a beaver brain, has
developed a piece of software called SymbmMath 3.1. Based on symbolic math
principles, the program will perform exact numeric, symbolic and algebraic
calculations. It is also clever enough to learn from the user's input, such
as integrals of an unknown function."
The Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers in "Software Reviews" session of "Mathematical Bytes", Volume 3, Number 2, October 1995, reviewed SymbMath:
This DOS application is a powerful computer algebra package which supports everything from simplification to integration. It is an Australian product, written by Dr Weiguang Huang at the University of New South Wales, and will perform most of the functions of the power tools in this field (such as Mathematica and Maple) but at a fraction of the cost.
SymbMath creates a Windows-like environment,
with separate Input and Output windows and easy access to help and keyword
menus. Since it operates using a "command-line" structure (with the
user required to enter keywords rather than to choose operations from a menu)
this access to help is very important. While I prefer a simpler approach to
input of both commands and mathematical expressions, this program is well
structured in this regard, and certainly much improved upon earlier versions.
Possibly the most disappointing aspect of
the package is its graphing capabilities, which provide adequate
two-dimensional function, polar and parametric plots. The lack of
three-dimensional capabilities at a time when most competitors are offering,
not only 3-D graphing but animation as well, is unfortunate.
At the same time, SymbMath offers some very
useful and powerful features which complement its quite extensive algebraic
manipulation and calculus capabilities. These include the ability to work with
chemical formulae and equations (Yes - it will solve reaction problems using
chemical symbols and computations involving atomic weights, mass and more!) and
a nice database function, allowing the user to store everything from telephone
numbers to geometric properties of figures. Drawing features are also available
within the graphics mode. SymbMath is also an "expert system",
capable of "learning" from the user during computation. Inputting a
single formula (for example, a derivative) automatically teaches the
corresponding integration rules. This is a powerful and interesting feature.
This program is available from the author in
three versions: shareware ($10), student ($60) and advanced ($99). Each
contains successively more functions. The shareware version, for example, lacks
a "solve" command and all trigonometric functions except sine and
cosine, and so has quite limited application in schools. The student version,
however, lacks only the hyperbolic functions, and so would be quite adequate
for school use. At the price, this represents good value for extensive
algebraic capabilities.
As an assistant in the senior school,
SymbMath appears to offer a range of very useful features at an affordable
price.
“The HP Palmtop Paper”, 1999, 8(6), Issue 48, reviewed:
8. Symbolic Math
SymbMath
is a computer algebra system that can perform exact numeric, symbolic and
graphic computation. It manipulates complicated formulas and returns answers in
terms of symbols, formulas, exact numbers, table and graph. SymbMath is also an
expert system that is able to learn from user's input. If the user only inputs
one formula without writing any code, it will automatically learn many problems
related to this formula (e.g. it learns many integrals involving an unknown
function f(x) from one derivative f'(x) ).
SymbMath is, in another sense, a programming language in which you can define conditional, case, piecewise, recursion, multi-value functions and procedures, derivatives, integrals and rules.
The program runs on the HP Palmtop and does almost everything that Derive can do.
Symbolic Math comes in one of three versions: Shareware, Student, and Advanced. Its three versions are available from the author, Dr. Weiguang Huang.