1 research outputs found
Design and implementation of a language for manipulating algebraic formulae
This thesis explores the possibilities of doing
mathematical problems involving algebra on a computer. A
language is designed which allows names to occur as unknown
quantities. This language has all the facilities of a
general purpose language such as IMP, but is designed to be
used inter-actively by a user at a console. The language
also includes instructions which cause the usual algebraic
operations to be applied to expressions. These operators
include simplification, differentiation, but not
integration.
A brief survey is given of other languages in the
field, with comments on their capabilities and
restrictions.
The second part of the thesis describes how the
language is implemented. An interpreter is used. Statements
of the language are analysed syntactically and then obeyed.
Algebraic expressions are stored in byte arrays, using a
type of prefix Polish notation.
Finally the language is reviewed in the light of
recent work done in the field, and suggestions are made for
a further version