UsingWW: Michael Hamm

$inactiveTopic$ +-

topic started 1/11/2006; 1:15:02 PM
last post 1/11/2006; 4:47:22 PM

$user$ Michael Hamm - +- $blueArrow$
1/11/2006; 1:15:02 PM (reads: 316, responses: 2)

I have

...

$b=random(1,11,1)*random(-1,1,2);

...

The equation of the line tangent to the curve ( y = $a x^3 + $b x ) at

...

How do I rig it so that, if $b<0, it doesn't look like +-?

Thanks,

$user$ Bob Byerly - Re: +- $blueArrow$
1/11/2006; 3:05:19 PM (reads: 390, responses: 0)

Bob

$user$ John Jones - Re: +- $blueArrow$
1/11/2006; 4:47:22 PM (reads: 399, responses: 0)

If the equation and text are between BEGIN_TEXT/END_TEXT, then this should happen automatically. It also usually makes the problem more readable.

It is also possible that b is 1 or -1. To fix those cases as well, you could use

$a = random(...);
$b=random(1,11,1)*random(-1,1,2);

$rhs = nicestring([$a, 0, $b, 0]);
# or
# $rhs = nicestring([$a, $b], [x^3, x]);

BEGIN_TEXT
The equation of the line tangent to the curve
$ y = $rhs $ at ...
END_TEXT

I think nicestring is also in PGbasicmacros.

John

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