Math Minion
A numerical problem solver for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad..
Free in the Apple App Store
2011-12-14 - New and Revised Examples
2011-12-08 - Graph Labels Update (1.2.1)
2011-12-03 - Version 1.2 brings an Iterator
2011-11-28 - Plotting Circles
Some Screenshots...
Pendulum Model
Based on a simple pendulum's mass (m), length (l), initial angle and velocity (y0), its motion is calculated. If the constant c is greater than zero, the motion will be damped.
Graph of Pendulum Motion
A graph of the motion of the pendulum modelled above.
Graph of Least Squares Fit
A graph showing the results of using the optimizer to fit a group of randomized points with a parabola.
E = MC^2
I am apparently a huge bundle of energy when totally annihilated. This is Einstein's famous e = mc^2 formula with 85 kg as weight. The unit lightc is a velocity unit equivalent to the speed of light in a vacuum. Math Minion figures out it the result is an energy and I have chosen to display it in more dramatic units than the standard kJ.
Models as Simple Forms
In a more pedestrian use of body mass, this model is presented as a pseudo form, with designated inputs and outputs. It takes height and weight and uses them to calculate a body mass index. Note the use of mixed units in the inputs.
A Future Value Report
Simple text or CSV reports can be generated for export. Here a single expression is reported. The expression produces a table of future values given an initial amount and an annual interest rate, which is assumed to be compounded monthly.
The formula:
initial * (1 + interest/12)^(1:20*12)
is interesting for the use of the 1:20 range operator in the power. This produces an array of integers from 1 to 20 and shows how arrays can be used in algebraic expressions.
Formula Editing
There is an expanded keyboard when editing formulas and it includes buttons for browsing conversion units, functions and objects and their contents. A tap will insert whatever you choose into the formula.
This model uses the equation solver to calculate 100 bubble points for an ethanol/water system.
Ethanol-Water Equilibrium
The results of the bubble point calculation as a plot.
McCabe Thiele
A McCabe Thiele distillation column diagram is constructed on the ethanol water equilibrium diagram.
Please see the Examples page as well.
Depending on your needs, Math Minion can be either a powerful scientific calculator that understands units, or a sophisticated modelling tool that is better suited to science and engineering problems than traditional spreadsheet programs.
It combines a mind map style representation of the relationships between expressions, with a formula system that operates transparently on scalars, arrays and matrices. A hierarchical model system helps encapsulate calculations in logical and easily duplicated units and a flexible unit conversion system tracks the fundamental property types through calculations. This allows it to know, for instance, that some fathoms divided by a few days is in fact a velocity that should not be added to a kilogram.
Some interesting features include:
- equations that work equally well with scalars, arrays and matrices
- a function library that in addition to the usual suspects includes, matrix multiplication, matrix inversion, comparison functions, an interpolation function and more.
- a flexible unit conversion system that helps automate dimensional analysis
- models and model arrays for information and calculation encapsulation
- a solver for one or more nonlinear equations
- an optimizer
- an ordinary differential equation solver
- a x-y graph tool.
- Can store and retrieve sessions from Dropbox
Math Minion is a universal app that runs on the iPhone and iPod Touch as well as the iPad.
The in application manual is also available.