Entering your own expression, equations and inequalities:

Q. How do I enter radical expressions (“roots”)?
A Just press the <ctrl>r key combination. For example “square root of 3x” would be entered like this (3x)<ctrl>r2. That would create an expression looking like this: . Note that you have to use parentheses around 3x, otherwise, you will create this expression .

Q. How do I enter inequality sign such as  ?
A. Easy, press the <ctrl>[ key combination.

Q. How can I enter an exponent (i.e. )?
A. “^” is an exponentiation operator.

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Q. How do I enter complex numbers (imaginary unit)?
A. Simple, press the <ctrl>i key combination.

Q. Do you have a list of all the special characters used in Algebra Professor editor?
A. Yes, it is available at two different places"
a) In your Algebra Professor manual (algman.doc – Appendix A)
b) Within your program help. You can access it by clicking on Help | Search for help and then typing edit keys and clicking on Display

Q. I am trying to create a fraction that looks like this:  but I keep getting . What is the problem?
A. You need to place parentheses around your denominator (i.e. a/(b+c)). If you don’t “c” will not be considered a part of denominator. The same rule applies to numerators (i.e. (a+b)/c) and exponents (i.e. a^(b+c)) .

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Q. I want to create an expression where one fraction divides another, such as this  but I keep getting . What is the problem?
A. You need to use the “division” operator “:”, rather than “fraction” operator “/”. In the above example that would mean a/b:(c/d). Notice the extra parentheses!

Q. I want to create expression where one fraction multiples another, such as this  but I keep getting . What is the problem?
A. The second fraction has to be placed in parentheses like this: a/b*(c/d)  

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Solving Equations and Inequalities

Q. I want Algebra Professor to solve a system of two linear equations. How do I enter them?
A. You need to separate them with a comma, like this: 2x+3y=1,3x-7y=4

Q . I want to solve the following equation for “x”, but the Algebra Professor keeps solving it for “a”:

                  ax +b = c.

 How do I change the solution variable?
A. Click on Solve | Solve for and then select the appropriate variable.

Q. Algebra Professor solves my quadratic equation by factoring, but I want it to use the quadratic formula. What do I do?
A. Click on Options | Domain | Use Quadratic

Q. When solving a system of equations, Algebra Professor uses elimination (addition) method, and I want to use the substitution method. What do I do?
A. Click on Solve | Method | Substitution

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Simplifying Expressions

Q. I would like to solve this problem  but Algebra Professor says that it can’t be solved. What is the problem?
A. This is an expression. It can be simplified. Only equations and inequalities can be solved. Make sure that you click on simplify, not solve button.

Q. I would like to simplify this expression (2x+3)(3x-1), but Algebra Professor says that it is already simplified. What is the problem?
A. Algebra Professor considers factored expressions completely simplified. What you really want to do here is expand (multiply the terms). First click on Expand button, and then click on Simplify step button several times.

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Accommodating Algebra Professor’s solution process to your needs

Q. How can I increase the number of steps that are shown in the workspace?
A. Click on Options  | Keep steps  and then choose the number of steps.

Q. Algebra Professor is showing too many details of the solution process. How do I decrease the level of details?
A. Click on Options | Visibility and select another visibility level.

Q. Solutions in my textbook are shown as real numbers (i.e. 0.5), but Algebra Professor shows them as fractions (i.e. 1/2). What do I do?
A. Click on Options | Domain | Allow reals

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Miscellaneous questions

Q. How can I enter a “mixed number” such as 1 1/2  (“one and one half”)?
A. “Mixed number” notation is ambiguous (you never know whether you are supposed to add or multiply the two quantities), and Algebra Professor doesn’t support it. You can easily simulate it by adding a “+” in between (i.e. 1+1/2). However, be careful when multiplying – you need to use extra parentheses like this: (1+1/2)*(2+1/3)

Q. How do I enter a function such as f(x) ?
A. At this time Algebra Professor does not support functional notation

Q. How do I enter logarithms (such as log(x))?
A. At this time Algebra Professor does not support logarithms.

Q.Can Algebra Professor solve word problems?
A. No, it can not. If you derive an equation from a word problems, Algebra Professor can solve it for you.

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Q. Where can I get additional help?
A. There is a complete Algebra Professor manual (algman.doc in Word format) on your CD (if you ordered one), or on the download site (if you downloaded the software). If you don’t want to download the whole manual, you can still view it on-line. Probably the most helpful thing to get you started are tutors available in the Help section of your program. The first tutor should give you enough information so you can start entering your own problems. You can access it by clicking on Help | Tutors | Basic Workspace …

If you still have a problem with entering a particular expression, please send it to us in an email (help@softmath.com) and we will help you enter it into the system

Q. I have a problem with downloading your software. What do I do?
A. Please contact us at help@softmath.com – describe your problem in as many details as possible (i.e. any error messages etc.) and we will help you.

Q. My PC crashed, I need to download your software again. What do I do?
A. Please contact us at help@softmath.com

Q. I have a problem not described in these FAQs. What do I do?
A. Please contact us at help@softmath.com

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