Re: Defining a function using common notation for absolute value (not Abs[x])
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg112733] Re: Defining a function using common notation for absolute value (not Abs[x])
- From: Albert Retey <awnl at gmx-topmail.de>
- Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2010 04:10:54 -0400 (EDT)
Am 28.09.2010 12:08, schrieb Gianni: > Please refer to: > > http://www.accardi.com/tutor/AbsoluteValueNotationSnapShot.bmp > > Thanks in advance for any help here. > > > In ASCII: > > The given function to work with: f(x) = (3^-|x|) > > Define it in Mathematica: > > f[x_]:=3^-Abs[x] > > f[x_]:=3^-|x| > > Syntax::tsntxi: "|x|" is incomplete; more input is needed. > > Syntax::sntxi: Incomplete expression; more input is needed. > > I am trying to display the absolute value exponent in the second > function definition above in the way students will see it in a > standard math text (with the vertical bars, not Abs, like in the first > text line). The first definition above is without error (exponent > shown as -Abs[x]). The second is what I am trying to define without > error. I am trying to find the button (hopefully on the classroom > assistant palette) that will produce the desired results. The button > in the Typesetting section of the Classroom Assistant won't be > implemented as an error free function definition as you see in the > error messages. I think your best bet is to use TraditionalForm. While I would not consider it a good choice when generally working with Mathematica, for the purpose of using it to present your lessions to students it probably is a reasonable choice. There are two thing you have to do: 1) convert the input cells to traditional form: select the cell and use the "Cell" -> "Convert To" -> "TraditionalForm" menu entry (or the corresponding keyboard shortcut, Shift-Ctrl-T on Windows). 2) set the format type for output cells to TraditionalForm in "Edit" ->"Preferences" -> "Evaluation" you could also set the input format type to TraditionalForm there but I find it very difficult to create evaluatable input in TraditionalForm, so I think you will be happier to write standard or input form and the convert to TraditionalForm with Shift-Ctrl-T. hth, albert
