So far only one type of variable has been discussed: an assignment variable. With an assignment variable MathPoint assigns a value to a declared variable. Assignment variables use a colon (:) for designating the assignment. With assignment variables, once an assignment is made that assignment remains unless you delete its value and/or replace it with a different value. Assignment variables look like the following:
Total Bananas:
Price Per Pound:
Bananas:
Often times, though, it is convenient to use a note for repetitive calculations or scenarios. In that case being able to direct certain variables to clear or overwrite their previous value is desirable. MathPoint offers two alternative variable types to handle these situations: input and output variables.
Total Bananas<:
Price Per Pound<:
Bananas<:
To illustrate let's modify the length conversion note:
inches<:
feet<:
yards<:
centimeters<:
feet = 3*yards
inches = 12*feet
centimeters*2.54 = inches
Inches, feet, yards and centimeters are all now input variables. Enter 12 for inches and select
(CALC). Now clear the note. Notice how all the variables are cleared automatically and ready for the next calculation.
Total Bananas:>
Output variables work best in what-if scenarios when you are always calculating the same variable. For instance, to use the Total Bananas example, you could do the following:
Bananas: 40
Price Per Pound: 1.50
Total Bananas:>
Total Bananas = Bananas * Price Per Pound
To recalculate Total Bananas just change Bananas or Price Per Pound and select (CALC). Total Bananas will automatically calculate. There is no need to clear or manually delete the result for Total Bananas.
Note, however, that you cannot define both Bananas and Total Bananas (or all three variables) as output variables. MathPoint will try to calculate each output variable and find that there is more than one unknown variable in the equation.
Output variables also clear when selecting the "Clear" or "C" button.
Total Bananas:
Price Per Pound:
Bananas:
Often times, though, it is convenient to use a note for repetitive calculations or scenarios. In that case being able to direct certain variables to clear or overwrite their previous value is desirable. MathPoint offers two alternative variable types to handle these situations: input and output variables.
Input Variables
Input variables are cleared when you select the "Clear" or "C" button. This makes it faster to perform a new calculation with the same note. Input variables use a less than (<) symbol in front of the colon:Total Bananas<:
Price Per Pound<:
Bananas<:
To illustrate let's modify the length conversion note:
inches<:
feet<:
yards<:
centimeters<:
feet = 3*yards
inches = 12*feet
centimeters*2.54 = inches
Inches, feet, yards and centimeters are all now input variables. Enter 12 for inches and select
(CALC). Now clear the note. Notice how all the variables are cleared automatically and ready for the next calculation.
Output Variables
Output variables automatically calculate, overwriting whatever value was already assigned. This means that calculated values do not need to be deleted or cleared before performing a second calculation. Output variables use a greater than (>) symbol after the colon.Total Bananas:>
Output variables work best in what-if scenarios when you are always calculating the same variable. For instance, to use the Total Bananas example, you could do the following:
Bananas: 40
Price Per Pound: 1.50
Total Bananas:>
Total Bananas = Bananas * Price Per Pound
To recalculate Total Bananas just change Bananas or Price Per Pound and select
(CALC). Total Bananas will automatically calculate. There is no need to clear or manually delete the result for Total Bananas.
Note, however, that you cannot define both Bananas and Total Bananas (or all three variables) as output variables. MathPoint will try to calculate each output variable and find that there is more than one unknown variable in the equation.
Output variables also clear when selecting the "Clear" or "C" button.