Keys
| Unary Operations | ||
| = | Change Sign | (x = -x) |
| TAB | Swap Terms | (y <=> x) |
| r | Square Root | sqrt(x) |
| s | Sine | sin(x) |
| c | Cosine | cos(x) |
| t | Tangent | tan(x) |
| ALT+s | Inverse Sine | asin(x) |
| ALT+c | Inverse Cosine | acos(x) |
| ALT+t | Inverse Tangent | atan(x) |
| l | Logn | log(x) |
| CTRL+l | Log10 | log10(x) |
| ALT+l | Log2 | log2(x) |
| CTRL+z | Undo | (x = x'y') |
| Binary Operations | ||
| + | Addition | (y+x) |
| - | Subtraction | (y-x) |
| * | Multiplication | (y*x) |
| / | Division | (y/x) |
| ^ | Pow | (y^x) |
| Constants | ||
| p | Pi | (3.141592...) |
| e | Euler's Constant | (2.718281...) |
All angles are in degrees.
FAQ
Q: What is the Stackulator?
A: The Stackulator is exactly like a Calculator, but with more freedom and flexability. Instead of entering single numbers, you can enter everything into "the stack" and then manipulate pairs of numbers within the "stack" using standard calculator functions. With the Stackulator you can perform intricate calculations with ease, and you never need to scribble notes or bother with the memory function again.
Based on Reverse Polish Notation, the Stackulator extends calculator functions backwards and allows simple or complex equations to be entered, re-arranged, undone, or extended, however you wish. Most Calculus and Trigonometry functions are included, so with the Stackulator even the most daunting of figures won't be a challenge.
Q: What is Reverse Polish Notation?
A: Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) is an alternate way of notating mathematical expressions. Although not too commonly used, RPN is often touted as more efficient than the standard notation, and RPN calculators are popular with many in the scientific and engineering communities. The basic premise of RPN is that the operator appears after the operands instead of between them. i.e. 2 + 3 appears in RPN as 2 3 +
Q: Is The Stackulator Reverse Polish Notation?
A: The Sackulator attempts to be as close to the expressiveness of RPN as can possibly be made without sacrificing additional features which make The Sackulator far more powerful than RPN. The Sackulator can be thought of as a superset of RPN – compatible but superior.
Q: What is a Stack?
A: The Stack is the “list” of numbers you can see growing downward as you enter numbers at the Top of Stack.
Q: What is the "Top of Stack"?
A: The "Top of Stack" refers to whichever cell is currently being worked on (highlighted by a green curly brace.) ALL operations are performed on the top of the stack. You can use the arrow keys (up and down) or the mouse to maneuver the top of the stack to whichever pair of numbers on which you wish to operate.
Q: What is a Cell?
A: A Cell is a single text box, with either a number or combined operations inside it.
Q: How does Undo work?
A: Ctrl+z on the keyboard will undo operations performed on two cells, or multiple cells, allowing an equation to be changed and rearranged to perform operations differently on elements of the stack.
Q: What are Unary operations?
A: Unary operations take one number and turn it into another number. Unary operations are "transformations" because they do not change the number of elements in the stack – only the value of a particular element.
Q: What are Binary operations?
A: Binary operations take two numbers and give one result. This property makes Binary operations "reductions" because they cause the number of elements in the stack to decrease by one.
Q: What browsers does The Sackulator support?
A: Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Apple Safari, and Google Chrome are all supported.
Q: Can I use The Sackulator on my mobile-touchy-thing?
A: I don’t know. I don’t own a mobile-touchy-thing but I would love to hear about your experiences with The Stackulator.
Q: Where do I get help?
A: Try the SummitVille forums, the SummitVille wiki or email me (SummitVille’s Mayor.)
Q: Where are the number keys and function buttons?
A: The Sackulator uses a keyboard interface to allow for quick and efficient manipulation of complex equations. Traditionally, the right hand is used to enter numbers and perform simple arithmetic operations. While the left hand is used to perform more complicated operations and manipulate the stack. Currently a functioning keypad can be reduced or expanded using the "K" button above the Stack. In future versions the keypad will be further enhanced.
Q: Where are the memory buttons (M+, M-, MR, MC)?
A: The memory of The Sackulator is the stack itself. Any values above the "Top of Stack" are unaffected by any and all operations. You must maneuver up to those numbers manually to use them in equations. Therefore numbers above the "top of stack" form an unlimited set of memory slots.
About
Firefox 3, Safari 3, Chrome 1, and Opera 9.
Internet Explorer has issues with the on-screen number pad.
