4/8/2015

mathcadtutorial

MathCADTutorial
ThisworksheetcoversmanyofthebasicoperationsandfunctionsinMathCAD.Itcovers
simpledefinitionsofconstants,variables,andarrays,plotting2dand3ddataandfunctions,
vectorsandmatrixarithmetic,numericalandsymbolicevaluationofintegralsanddifferentials,
andanimations.
Version2.0RLM(20Jan2005)

Part1:Elementary
Literals

Definingvariables

Usingbuiltin
functions

Displaysignificantdigitinresult:changeto8by
doubleclickingontheanswerandchanging
'numberofdecimalplaces
Using
dimensions
a.Example1
Definesome
constants

Definecustomunitsintermsof
predefinedunits,expressanserin
customunits
Anglesarenormallyexpressedin
radiansbydefault
Replaceplaceholderwithdesired
angualrunit(deg)

b.Example2:HowlongdoesittakelightfromthestarVegatoreach
Earth?
Define
constants

c.Example3:WhatisthegravitationalaccelerationontheEarth's
surface?
Notemixingof
mks,cgs,andEnglish
units!
Resultisincorrectunits(MathCAD
convertsvariablestoaconsistentsetof
http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~rlm/mathcad/mathcad%20tutorial.htm

1/8

4/8/2015

mathcadtutorial

unitsbeforeevaluation)

d.Example4:Lostatsea1problem(Bennett,p.109)

Atsolartransit,therelationshipbetweenlongitude,UTtimeofsolartransitis

Lookingataworldmap(e.g.Mapquest,mapbycoordinates)showsthatthislocationis
closetoHawaii
Using
Arrays

UsetheInsert...matrixto
createarrayX,3x3matrixY

2.Plottingdata
EnteringandPlottingdata
enterbyhandusingcommas

Addafittingfunctiontotheplot
Fittingfunction(slopeandintercept
http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~rlm/mathcad/mathcad%20tutorial.htm

2/8

4/8/2015

mathcadtutorial

arepredefinedfunctions)

Functionlinereportsbothslope,intercept

Plottingfunctions:Blackbodycurve

3.Readingandwritingdatafromfiles
Readingdatafromacolumnbasedtextfile

Writingtoadatafile

http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~rlm/mathcad/mathcad%20tutorial.htm

3/8

4/8/2015

mathcadtutorial

Writetoauserdefined
file
4.Vectorandmatrixarithmetic

definevectorsusinginsertmatrix(1columnxn
rows))
Dot
product

vector
addition

Cross
product
Lengthof
vector

Supposewehavematrixequationy=M*x.GivenM,y,whatis
x?

5.Numericalintegration(definiteintegrals)

Planckfunction,
suppose:
SinceluminosityisproportionaltothefourthpowerofT,
weexpectluminosityratiotobe:

http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~rlm/mathcad/mathcad%20tutorial.htm

4/8

4/8/2015

mathcadtutorial

6.Symbolicevaluationofexpression,integrals,differentials
indefinite
integrals
selectentireintegral,chooseSymbolics/evaluate/
symbolically,orsimplyselectandtypecontrol.(period),F9

ordinarynthorderdifferentials,evaluate
symbolically:

Definite
integral:
Selectentireintegral,select
Symbolics/Evaluate/Symbolically

Evaluation:floatingpoint:
noteuselargefiniteupper
limit

comparewithsymbolic
result

Symboliccalculationofmatrixexpressions
selectmatrix,then
symbolics/matrix/invert

factoringofalgebraicexpressions

solvefor
variable
Solvefory(note:usectrlequalforequalsignin
symbolicexpressions)
Solvefor
y
http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~rlm/mathcad/mathcad%20tutorial.htm

5/8

4/8/2015

mathcadtutorial

8.Solveblocks:singlevariable
Guessfor

Solvinggroupsofequations
Guesses

9.Solvingforrootsofanequationusingrootfunction

guesses(frominspectionof
plot)

10.Plotting3dcurves
Parametriclines

http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~rlm/mathcad/mathcad%20tutorial.htm

6/8

4/8/2015

mathcadtutorial

3dSurface
Functiondescribinggraphtobe
revolvedaboutaxis
Intervaldeterminingportionof
graphtorevolve
setupagridini,j

Anotherexample:

http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~rlm/mathcad/mathcad%20tutorial.htm

7/8

4/8/2015

mathcadtutorial

11.
Animations!

Definea2dfunction
toplot,withthe
variabletobestepped
(g)definedbyspecial
MathcADvariable
FRAME.Thenchoose
Tools/Animations/record.
Selecttheregiontobe
animated(including
theFRAME
statement),then.
Animatebutton

http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~rlm/mathcad/mathcad%20tutorial.htm

8/8