active expression
the expression to which transformations will be applied; the expression in the workspace shown in black instead of gray
algebraic simplification
another term for non-specific simplification
alternate input
The use of $ escapes and tick escapes to provide characters not normally found on a computer keyboard
bifix binary operator
a binary operator denoted by two symbols with the first operand between the symbols and the second operand following the second symbol; see n-fix n-ary operator
bifix unary operator
a unary operator denoted by two symbols, typically matching enclosure symbols, that surround the single operand
binding
the association of non-local variable and function references in an expression with appropriate definitions elsewhere in the workspace
cardinality
a unary operator that measures the number of items in a collection
cast
a postfix unary operator that specifies the type of a conversion target
collection
an expression that contains one or more items: set, tuple or matrix
collection generator
an expression of the form (template|domain), {template|domain}, or [template|domain|domain]
column vector
a composite value consisting of a list of scalar expressions displayed vertically
complex value
a composite value consisting of a pair of scalar expressions indicating real and imaginary components of a 2-dimensional vector space
composite
an expression that contains real or scalar values: complex, radial, vector
construct
an expression constructed using a multi-part operator such as integral, integration, derivative, generator, transform, piecewise; see n-fix n-ary operator
decoration
a mapping function attached to an integral or integration; see u-integrator
decoupled derivative
a notation for separating the derivator and derivand so they can be manipulated separately
derivand
the subexpression between the first and second derivative symbols in a derivative expression, as in ⅆx^2+1ⅆ
derivator
the subexpression following the derivative symbol in a derivative expression, as in ⅆx^2+1ⅆx
display form
a two-dimensional drawing of a mathematical expressions
elaboration
the right operand of a definition operator that provides a “body” for a definition.
fast-action bar
a list of menu items placed horizontally across the top of the display just below the menu bar
generator
an expression that summarizes a series or a collection
generator source
the expression that appears after | in a collection generator
grammar
a set of rules that describe phrases acceptable in a language
highlighting
a way of indicating which subexpression has been identified as the subject of transformation
home button
a button located at the top left of the menu bar that dismisses the display and returns to the previous activity
input form
a sequence of characters that can be parsed to yield a Myron expression
integrand
the subexpression between the integral symbol and the derivative symbol in an integral expression
integration
the result of simplifying a definite integral is a (definite) integration, indicated by the integrated expression preceded by a vertical bar decorated with the lower and upper bounds of the integration interval.
integrator
the subexpression following the derivative symbol in an integral expression
matrix
a 2-dimensional collection in which each row has the same number of elements
menu bar
a list of menu items consisting of names and/or icons placed horizontally across the top of the display
monic
A monic polynomial is a polynomial whose leading coefficient equals 1. So x^4-2x^3+5x and x-2 are monic but 3x^2-4 is not.
n-fix n-ary operator
an operator notation consisting of n symbols with n-1, n or n+1 operands. An expression like (a>b)?a:bis a bifix ternary operator (2 symbols, 3 operands); an expression like ⅆx^2ⅆx:2 is a trifix ternary operator (3 symbols, 3 operands); an expression like (template|domain) is a trifix binary operator (3 symbols, 2 operands). For expressions where the number of symbols matches the number of operands, the notation typically begins with a symbol and the final operand is parsed as a primary so that it need not be parenthesized.
non-local variable
a name referencing a variable not defined in the expression in which the name contained
non-specific simplification
constant folding, constant reordering, straightening and strength reduction
postfix unary operator
an operator that comes after its single operand
prefix unary operator
an operator that comes before its single operand
primary
a syntactic construct that can appear as an operand of unary and binary operators without requiring parenthesization
radial
a composite value specified by a list of scalars in which the first represents a magnitude and the rest represent angles in orthogonal planes
real
an expression with the potential to evaluate to a single numeric value
replay list
a list of expressions, transformations and subjects that traces step-by-step activity starting from the first expression
row vector
a composite value consisting of a list of scalar expressions displayed horizontally
scalar
an expression whose type is real or complex.
selection
a subexpression of the source expression indicated by highlighting
sentential form
a string of characters that can be generated from a rule in a grammar
set
a collection in which order is unimportant and duplicates are not allowed
source
see generator source
source expression
the active expression; the expression on which a transformation is applied; the expression of which the subject is a subexpression
special simplification
see specific simplification
specific simplification
expression-sensitive rearrangement of subexpressions like integration and differentiation; triggered by applying simplification to an expression with an explicit selection
subject
a selected subexpression or the source expression if no selection exists
symbolic manipulation
performs exact computation with expressions containing variables that do not have any given value and are thus manipulated as symbols
text-input area
the area in the algebra workspace that accepts input from the keyboard
text-output area
the area in the algebra workspace where the input form of the active expression is displayed
transformation
a change to the form of an expression
tuple
a collection in which order is important and duplicates are allowed
u-integrator
the decoration on an integral symbol that denotes the expressions involved in u-substitution

Glossary