Version 1.7.4

I didn't end up getting the bug fix update out last week like I originally thought.  I finally got everything done last night and posted the update to Google Play.  This will be the last update and blog post for this year since I won't have much time to work on it over the Holidays.

More Bug Fixes

Well it has been a while since I have posted.  The hinge on my laptop broke a few weeks ago.  I was able to still use the computer but it was only a matter of time until it become unusable.  I bought a new laptop and now have everything setup on it to work on the app.

I am working on fixing some more bugs for the next update.  I should have it out sometime this week.

Bug Fixes and Engine Improvements

For the next update, I am working on fixing bugs and optimizing the engine.  Some more complicated problems are taking much longer to simplify than they should.  After the improvements I have made for the next update, some of these are now simplifying over 10 times faster than the current version.

I am also working on fixing some reported crashes when executing some problems or graphing some equations.

Custom Keys Released

Version 2.7 is now on Google Play.  This adds custom keys to the paid version.  I have also added a tutorial for custom keys on the website.  Click here to view tutorial.

Custom Keys Almost Here

Just through I would give a quick update since it has been a while since I posted about Custom Keys.  I am almost finished adding Custom Keys to the app.  If all goes well the custom keys update will be on Google Play next week.  I will also be adding a tutorial on the website on how to create custom keys.

Custom keys

Currently users must use M₁, M₂, M₃, or M₄ as memories for custom expressions and f, g, or h for custom functions.  Although this works, it is less than ideal.  Users can't name their expressions or functions something more meaningful and they are restricted to four expressions and three functions.

I am working on allowing users of the paid version to create custom keys for their custom expressions and functions.  You will be able to use letters in the English and Greek alphabet to name your custom expressions and functions.  You will also be able to create as many as you wish.

For example, someone my use the golden ratio a lot.  It is usually represented by the Greek letter  φ (phi) and is approximately equal to 1.6180339887.  With this new feature, you could create a custom key named φ and set that equal to 1.6180339887.  The key could be accessed by the "more" key or you could place the φ key on a custom keyboard to make it easier to access.

All Cartesian Graph Mode Released

A new update is now available in Google Play.  This adds the All Cartesian graph mode that I talked about in the last post.  It is only available in the paid version.  In the next few days I will also add a tutorial to the website to help explain the differences between the two Cartesian graph modes.

Cartesian Graphing

Currently, Cartesian graphing mode will only graph an equation if it is able to solve for x or y.  This works fairly well, since we are able to graph many different functions including conic sections.  However, things like sin(x)=cos(y) will not be drawn completely (since it will solve for y, and end up graphing y=arccos(sin(x))  ) and xy>0 will not be drawn at all.

 In the next update, the current Cartesian mode will be called "Fast Cartesian" and a new "All Cartesian" mode will be added.  Only the paid version will have the "All Cartesian" mode.  In this new mode, all equations will be graphed.  However, this mode will be slower at drawing equations (which is why the other mode will be called Fast Cartesian).  It will also not have as many readings available to view and you will not be able to view these equations in table format.  For these reasons the old Cartesian mode should be used unless the equation is not able to be drawn in the old mode.

Here are some examples of the new All Cartesian mode.

sin(x)=cos(y)

xy>0

Release 2.5

A new version is on Google Play.  This allows you to save graph setups and screenshots.  The copy, cut, paste, undo, and redo keys on the keyboard are now icons instead of text.  Last, the app has been translated to Spanish and Japanese.

Graph Save/Recall

For the next release, I am working on adding save/recall to graphs.  When you save a graph, the equations, reading, and bounds will be saved.  You can then recall the graph at a later time to reference it.  You will also be able to transfer saved graph files between devices.  Once I get it added I will post some screenshots.

In the last update, I added translations for German.  This is the first language I translated to the app to (previously it was only available in English).  In future updates I will be translating the app to more languages.  A consequence of this is that every time I update the app, I will have to translate anything new added.  This adds extra work to each update.  Therefore, future updates will be less frequent, but there will likely be more features added in each update.  Expect at least a month or two between updates that add new features.  If necessary there will be some smaller updates in between that fix bugs.

Small Update Ahead

The live results update was uploaded to Google Play last week (in case you didn't notice).  I am working on a small update that will mostly be code organizational changes to prepare for future updates.  I am also planning on replacing the E key with the = key on the graph equations screen (on the default keyboard).  This will be much more convenient for entering graph equations.  The keyboard on the calculator will not be changing.  The update should be out sometime this week.

Live Results

For the next update, I am working on adding a setting to enable live results.  With live results, the calculator will calculate results as you type your problem in.  This setting will not be enabled by default.

Tables Released

Version 2.4 is now available on Google Play.  This adds a new table screen to view graph equations in table format.  You can also now fling the graph (except for log scaling).  The update includes a few other minor changes and fixes.

Table for Equations

The next update will add the ability to view a table of points for the graph equations.

MathAlly 1 Year Old!

MathAlly Graphing Calculator has now been on Google Play for 1 year.  Many features have been added through updates since its initial release one year ago!  Here are some of the highlights:

• Custom Keyboards (Plus version only)
• Trig identities
• Differentiation
• Definite integration
• Matrices
• Inequalities (for graphing and solving)
• Graphs not in form y=... such as conic sections
• Polar and Cartesian graphing (Plus version only)
• Copy/Paste
• English descriptions to step-by-step screen (Plus version only)
• Workspaces (Plus version only)

Of course, there have been many other additions and fixes over the past year and there are still more to come!  I have just uploaded another update to Google Play that fixes a few problems and makes some enhancements.

Thanks to everyone who has downloaded and used the calculator over the past year, especially those who have purchased the paid version!  Also thank you to all of those who have provided me with valuable feedback.  Some of the ideas for feature additions have come directly from users.

Workspaces Update on Google Play

Version 2.3 is now on Google Play.  This adds workspaces to the paid version.  It also includes some other improvements and bug fixes.

Workspaces

The next update will add workspaces to the paid version.  A workspace is a place where calculations are saved to.  Currently the calculator only has one workspace (results history in the calculator), and only the last 20 problems are saved.  With the next update, you will be able to create new workspaces and change their size so they can store more results.  The first screenshot shows the screen to manage your workspaces.  The second one was shown after pressing the "View" button from the first screen.

As you can see, you will be able to export and import workspaces like you can with custom keyboards (first screenshot).  When viewing workspaces (second screenshot) you can select problems by clicking on the input.  Once an input is selected, you can copy it to another workspace, delete it, or adjust its position in this workspace.  To adjust its position in this workspace, simply select "Adjust Position" from the menu and then click where you want to move the selected items to.

If you click on a result while viewing the workspace, the step-by-step screen will be shown for that problem.  You can also long-click on any input/result to highlight it for coping it (or part of it) to the clipboard.  Finally, if you click on "Settings" you can change the maximum size of the workspace.  After the max size is reached, the calculator will delete the oldest item when a new expression is executed.

Version 2.2 Released

Version 2.2 is now up on Google Play.  This adds a new Number Format setting (under General).  This allows the user to choose the decimal mark, digit grouping, and function argument separator that they wish to use.  Previously the decimal mark was always a point and there was no digit grouping.  When digit grouping is turned on, digits are automatically grouped as you enter them (unless you have basic text entry enabled).  For example, if you set the digit grouping to a comma and enter "12345", it will automatically be grouped and display "12,345" in the entry.

Currently the calculator history only stores the last 20 calculations in the calculator history.  I have had requests for a way to permanently store calculations.  For the next update I am planning on adding a way to permanently store calculations.  I have some ideas on how I would like to add this feature and I think it will end up being pretty neat once I get it in.  This feature will only be available in the paid version.  Once I get some of it implemented I will post some screenshots with more information on how it will work.

Matrix update published.

Version 2.1 has been published on Google Play.  This add the new matrix operations ref, rref, lu, qr, cof, eigval, and eigvec to the paid version.

Matrices

The next update will add more matrix functionality to the paid version.  I am working on adding the following.

• Row echelon form.
• Reduced row echelon form.
• LU decomposition
• QR decomposition
• Eigenvalues and eigenvectors
• Cofactor matrix.

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors will only be calculated in decimal mode but the rest will work in both decimal and integer modes.  In addition, there will be a new setting to view the steps for matrix some matrix operations.  For example, when enabled, you will be able to view the steps used to transform a matrix into row reduced echelon form.

There isn't enough space on the default keyboard to add all of these new operations.  Therefore, there will be a new "more" key on the default keyboard.  The more key can be added to your custom keyboards too.  When you press the more key, a new screen will be brought up that will list all keys that are not on your keyboard.  On the default keyboard, pressing the more key will list these new matrix operations (since they won't be on the default keyboard).

UI Changes Released

Google Play has now been updated with the new UI changes.  Some changes include a wrap text and full screen option.  You can also hold down the arrow keys to repeatedly moved the cursor on the calculator.  In addition, there are many other small changes that should make the calculator easier to use.

UI Changes

The current user interface (UI) isn't nearly as attractive as I would like it to be.  I'm not much of a designer, but I have been working hard the last week to try to make the UI more attractive and more user friendly.  

In the next update, the calculator will mostly function the same as before.  However, there are some layout changes.  For consistency, all versions of android will now have an action bar (the navigation bar at the top of the screen).  I am considering making it optional for devices with a menu button.  Here is a screenshot of the new UI I have created.  Things are set in stone yet, so there could be some changes before the actual update.

The default keyboard color scheme is shown above.  With this, only the digit and the four basic operator keys are colored  (digits are white and operators are blue).  Everything else is a dark gray.  However, users will have the options to change to three other color schemes: light, medium, and dark.  In these three schemes, similar keys will be colored the same.  Here are three screenshots showing light, medium, and dark.

Light:

Medium:

Dark:

In the paid version users will be able to set any key to any choice of color they want when creating their custom keyboards.

There will also be some changes to the graph screen.  Currently when graphing you have to hit an up arrow to open up a tabbed view to view reading, bounds, and equations.  The up arrow will be going away in the new UI.  Instead, there will be a drop down selection in the action bar to select which tab you want to view (and a None selection to view the graph full screen).  In the image below, you can see that "Readings" is selected in the action bar so the readings tab is shown.

Finally, when graphing in landscape the screen will be split vertically instead of the current horizontal split.  This should make it must easier to use graphing in landscape.

Thanks for the nominations!

Thanks to everyone who nominated MathAlly Graphing Calculator for best education app on bestappever.com.  We were one of the top ten nominated apps in the education category.  Voting for the final round has now closed.

Version 1.16

Version 1.16 is now on Google Play.  This adds the ability to set variable domains and graph conic sections in the form Ax^2+Bxy+Cy^2+Dx+Ey+F=0.  There are also numerous other smaller changes and additions.  You can see more changes on our version history page.

Variable Domains

Currently calculations done with the assumption that variables can contain any real number (although there are some cases where this isn't true).  This isn't documented anywhere which may lead to some confusion on exactly how variables behave.  In addition, sometimes it may be desirable for variables to only be positive, only integers, etc.

For example, entering sqrt(x^2)/sqrt(x) currently simplifies to abs(x)/sqrt(x).  However, if x can only be a positive value, then it could be simplified to sqrt(x).

In the next update, you will have the ability to set the domain of variables.  The options will be:

• Positive Integers
• All Integers
• Positive Reals
• All Reals
• Complex

Expressions will simplify based on the domains of the variables used in it.  This will not only make it more clear to users exactly what variables can contain, but also allow more flexibility in calculations.

Vote for us!

If you like MathAlly you can nominate us on http://www.bestappever.com/.  Click on the graphic below to nominate our Graphing Calculator for the best educational app.  They also have other categories that you can nominate apps in.  Nominations end on April 20th.

Edit: The Nomination round is now closed, you can vote for us in the final round by clicking here.

Update 1.15

Version 1.15 is now on Google Play.  This add English descriptions to steps ( Plus version only).  It also fixes some bugs.

Steps Update and Screenshot

Here is a screenshot of what the new steps screen will look like in the next update.  These changes will only be effecting the paid version of the calculator since only the paid version can view the steps performed.

Each step will first have an English description.  Some of the descriptions will have formulas to help explain exactly what it is doing.  For example, in the image above, the first step shown says "Factor difference of two squares."  It then has the formula for factoring two squares, which is a^2-b^2=(a-b)(a+b).  The next line after the description is the expression that the step started with.  The items highlighted in green are what the step is changing.  The next line is the resulting expression for the step.  The changes from the original expression are in blue.

Most steps will have the green and blue highlights for what is changing.  However, not all of them will.  Some steps may just have a description with the resulting expression.

Calculation Steps

When I decided I wanted to write a calculator for Android, I knew one of the features I wanted it to have was to be able to show the user the steps the calculator performed to get the result it did.  This was something I hadn't seen any other calculator on Android do and something I thought would be very useful to many people.

This feature is available in the paid version.  However, in its current form it is fairly basic.  I have long wanted to provide descriptions for each step and make it easier to see what is changing between each step.  For the next update I am working on doing just that.  Once I get enough of it working, I will post a new entry with screen shots (will be at least a couple weeks).

Release 1.14

Version 1.14 is now on Google Play.  This adds the ability to graph inequalities.  There is also now an Advanced Pinch-Zoom setting.  Enabling this causes the width/height ratio to no longer be fixed when pinch-zooming.  Finally, there are also so bug fixes.

Graphing Inequalities

Currently the calculator can solve inequalities but it can not graph them.  For the next update, I am working on adding the ability to graph inequalities when in Cartesian graphing mode.  Not only will it graph simple inequalities such as y<x+1, but also more complex inequalities such as the circle x^2+y^2<1.

Version 1.13.1

A small update was made today.  The update fixes some incorrect traces on graphs.  Thank you to those who reported these errors so I could fix them!

Basic text entry

The next update will include an option for "Basic text entry".  What does that mean?  Well currently expressions are formatted as you enter them.  Division is shown with a horizontal bar separating the dividend and divisor, and exponents are displayed in the superscript position.  This is similar the the way you would write down the expressions on paper.  However, not everyone may prefer this input method, especially if you are using a physical keyboard.

The basic text entry will act more like a text box for entry.  Division will use the '/' character and exponents will use the '^' character.  In addition, when in basic text entry you will be able to paste expressions from the android clipboard.  For example, if you see the expression sin(pi/2)^2 in another android app, you can copy it from that app and paste it into our calculator (you can only paste it if you are in basic text entry mode) to execute down.

Results will always be displayed in the current formatted way.  Another addition to the update, is anytime you copy the formatted result, it will be placed in the android clipboard as text.  This way you can copy results into other apps.

More information about this new entry will be posted in a tutorial on the website when the update it released.

Version 1.12

I have just uploaded version 1.12 to Google Play.  This adds logarithmic scaling to graphing.  It also adds an option to display graph reading points (such as intersections and roots) on graph.  Unfortunately asymptote readings aren't going to be added in the near future.  I soon realized after the last post that it was going to be more work to put them in then i originally thought.  It will also be easier to add them in after some other features are added.  For this reason, they won't be added in the near future, although I do hope to eventually add them.

Version 1.11.3

I just uploaded version 1.11.3 to Google Play.  This adds peak and trough readings to graph.  It also fixes some bugs.

There are are few more things that I wan't to add to graphing in the next update or two.

1. Asymptote reading.
2. Logarithmic scaling.
3. Display reading points on traces when the down arrow is hit to hide the reading tab.  Just like markers will draw their position when the readings tab is hidden, other readings will also show their location and reading on traces when the readings tab is hidden.

Small Update

There will be a small update this weekend.  This update will remove the help page and add a short tutorial in the app.  There will also be some bug fixes.

Version 1.11

Version 1.11 is now live on Google Play.  This removes the "y=" from the graph equations so you can now graph inverse functions, circles, hyperbola, and more.  Also this adds polar and parametric graphing to the paid version.