On Jun 25, 2009, at 10:40 AM, Ondrej Certik wrote:
> > On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 10:36 AM, Aaron S. > Meurer<asmeu...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> This is our tutorial: >>> >>> http://docs.sympy.org/tutorial.html >>> >>> Do you have some ideas how it could be improved? >> OK. That isn't too bad. I think we should add a bit for people who >> are new to Python. There seem to be quite a few people who use SymPy >> who have never used Python before. In particular, maybe a list of >> some Python "gotchas" and common pitfalls for people used to other >> computer algebra systems. Here are some ideas, based on stuff that I >> have noticed: >> >> 1) = is not equals (use Eq, or set all expressions equal to 0 >> 2) == compares exactly, not symbolically (is there a function that >> compares symbolically? I know you can do simplify(a-b) and see if it >> reduces to 0) > > this is in the FAQ too. > >> 3) variable assignment does not place a relation on variables (this >> is >> already in the FAQ on the wiki) >> 4) no implied multiplications >> 5) use Rational instead of / to get symbolic fractions > > Actually, you just need to make sure at least one of the arguments is > a sympy expression. I use this to get fractions: > > S(3)/4 > > > The S(4) makes 4 a sympy integer. > >> 6) basic use of [ and ( (There was a question about this in the >> list a >> while back) >> 7) exponents with ** (most people in other CAS's use ^) >> 8) asin, acos, etc. instead of arcsin > > Right --- python also uses asin. > >> >> Also, the tutorial doesn't seem to mention using dir() to get a list >> of all functions and classes and help(func) to get help on a class. > > And ?<TAB> for docstring. I don't use dir, I use > > .<TAB> These only work if you use iPython. We can add that too, but if someone just installs sympy and not iPython, dir() and help() are the only ways that work. > > Good points overall, let's incorporate this. > > Ondrej > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sympy" group. To post to this group, send email to sympy@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to sympy+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sympy?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
