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- FUNCTIO function-analysis on the ATARI Portfolio
-
- FUNCTIO.EXE is a program that uses the graphic capabilities of the ATARI
- Portfolio. The program plots X-Y diagrams from any equation the user supplies,
- where Y is a function of X.
-
-
- Getting started:
-
- 1. Copy the program to the Portfolio, using either the serial or parallel
- interface. Make sure there is enough space : functio.exe at the moment
- occupies 14480 bytes.
-
- 2. Start by typing FUNCTIO <enter>.
-
- 3. After the title screen (<enter>) you are asked to supply an equation
- for Y=....
- Type : sin(x)/x (see below for other examples)
- The usual editing- keys can be used to change or correct the current
- equation.
- (Only 30 characters fit on the input line , but the maximum length
- of the equation is 60 characters. Editing the second half occurs
- automatically if your input line exceeds thirty positions or if you put
- a '>' at the end of the first line.)
- If you just type <enter> you're ready.
-
- 3. You are asked for the starting value for X ;
- Type -10
-
- (All numbers you type in are six-byte real numbers, with a range from
- 2.9 E-39 to 1.7 E+38. Other possible starting values for X could be:
- -2.9E-39
- 3^8
- -PI
- Try them out later).
-
-
- 4. .... and for the max value of X....
- Type 10
-
- 5. The Portfolio then starts calculating the max and min values in the Y
- direction. The formula is being evaluated 240 times so this does take some
- time.
- The values appear to be -0.2172042652 and 0.9997082473 ...(all
- calculations also have an accuracy of 6-byte real variables). When you hit
- <enter> the graphic screen appears.
-
- The program calculates where and how many numbers have to be printed alongside
- the axes. You can repeat steps 3 to 5 as many times as you want, for instance to
- make ever larger 'blow-ups' of the diagrams, just by entering different min/max
- values.
- You can try this out for the same formula Y=SIN(X)/X with the next sequence of
- values :
- MINimum and MAXimum values for X:
- MIN MAX
- -30 30
- 0 30
- 5 10
- 6 6.5
- 6.28 6.29
-
- You see that FUNCTIO can be an accurate help for finding points of intersection.
-
- The complexity of the equation you type in is only limited by the length of the
- input line of 30 characters.
-
- The equation further may contain:
- X
- brackets as many as you like, but always as many (( as there are )).
- real numbers ( for instance 3 , but also 12.3 E10 is possible)
- PI
- the normal operators + addition
- - substraction
- * multiplication
- / division
- ^ power
- SIN en COS(use S and C for short)
-
- for the square root you can use X^0.5 and the TANgent of X for instance can be
- accomplished by SIN(X)/COS(X).
-
- Other suggestions :
-
- try:
-
- X^(SIN(X)) for X= -10 to 10
-
- -2^X for X= 0 to 8
-
- sin(x)+sin(3x)+sin(5x)+sin(7x)+sin(9x)+sin(11x) for X= -PI to PI
-
- If there is enough white space left then the graphic display also contains the
- equation you entered and the name of the program.
-
-
-
-
- FUNCTIO.EXE was written to make use of the graphic possibilities of the ATARI
- Portfolio pocket computer. It also runs on MS-DOS computer with a CGA graphic
- card, though the screen is limited to 240x64 pixels.
- The program was written using Borland's Turbo Pascal 5.5 ,using some special
- techniques to compile an EXE file small enough for the Portfolio.
-
- Other versions of FUNCTIO include bigger screen versions for HERCULES and
- EGA/VGA graphic cards.
-
- If you're interested in these, or in programming for the ATARI Portfolio you could
- contact me through the Dutch ATARI BBS in COMPUSERVE or by mail:
-
- S.J. Spoelstra
- Korenmolen 24
- 2906 RA Capelle a/d IJssel
- Holland.
-