Creating X Solving Program

Jay · #1 22-01-2009, 06:27 PM

Harrow fellow people of great help,

I need to write a program in which you can enter an equation such as:

3x = 6
6x + 24 = 2x - 10
3x^2 / 4 = x^2 - 14

Or anything like that, and it will solve what X is, and show the working out (print it to a Rich Text Box).

I'm not quite sure how to start, any help would be great.

PS: I was thinking (because this is the only way I can think of to do it) I would set up blank textboxes in multiple formats of equations, such as I have above and depending on which the user enters numbers into, it solves for that equation type.

I'm sure there's a better way, but I can't think of it

Thanks,
Jay.

Epiic · #2 22-01-2009, 07:29 PM

I'll try to find out a way. I have the same thing on my calculator. I'll look in the manual and see what I can find.

Jay · #3 23-01-2009, 12:47 AM

Not sure if it'll have Visual Basic code in a calculator manual, but thanks :P

Nullware · #4 24-01-2009, 09:11 PM

PS: I was thinking (because this is the only way I can think of to do it) I would set up blank textboxes in multiple formats of equations, such as I have above and depending on which the user enters numbers into, it solves for that equation type.

I'm sure there's a better way, but I can't think of it

That would be a pretty poor way of doing it as it isn't very flexible and doesn't look very professional...

In my opinion you would be much better off parsing a string entered by the user after giving them instructions as to what kind of formatting/notation your program accepts. This wouldn't be exactly easy though but I'd say give it a shot if you think you're up to it.

Jay · #5 24-01-2009, 11:53 PM

I'm not sure I would be able to allow it to support any equation format, only certain formats I program it to allow, which means I would have to spend alot of time making it work for multiple formats, which is almost as time consuming as my first suggestion.

Then there is still the problem of making it solve what X is, showing working out steps.

Epiic · #6 24-01-2009, 11:54 PM

Maybe this:

aX = b+c(d) -- Start

Enter the constants (a, b, c, d)

Then solve?

I don't have a clue, I've never tried visual basic in my life.

Jay · #7 25-01-2009, 12:23 AM

The problem is, what if the equation is like this:

aX + b / c = d ^ e / fX

Or something different to the one template you've mentioned.

Epiic · #8 25-01-2009, 12:54 AM

Yeah, there's millions of possibilities. But there has to be a way.

I've just downloaded Visual Basic, so I'll try it out.

Jay · #9 28-01-2009, 03:02 AM

No one has any suggestions?