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Re: Re: Re: Re: Use of CAS in introductory science&engineering courses


Renan wrote:

>On 10/24/05, Pratik Desai <pdesai1 at umbc.edu> wrote:
>
>
>  
>
>>I wonder what the core language of  a calculator could be :-) ,  for me
>>mathematica is essentially a souped up calculator. I expect nothing more
>>and nothing less...............
>>    
>>
>
>The HP calculators, (at least the HP-48) use a custom language (System
>RPL) together with machine language - you can actually program using
>this language (rather than the "end-user" language - User RPL) but HP
>does not support it.
>
>And for me Mathematica is more than a calculator - it is a programming
>language for "exact sciences" (mathematics, physics, engineering...).
>
>  
>
I am sorry if that came across as arcane and somewhat stupid. But the 
point I was trying to make or think that I was trying to make is that 
for a string to be a  programming languge ,it has to be easily converted 
to a object code, which I am sure those languages you mentioned do. 
Mathematica uses the kernel which I believe is written in C++ to do its 
translation hence mathematica syntax cannot be a bonifide programming 
language. Or am I wrong? I am not a (god forbid) a computer scientist 
but that's my impression


Regards

Pratik


-- 
Pratik Desai
Graduate Student
UMBC
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Phone: 410 455 8134



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