TABLE OF CONTENTS Mathcad has hundreds of built-in functions. This chapter introduces these built-in functions and describes their basic use. It also introduces the use of user-defined functions.
The power of using user-defined functions is not realized even by many long-time Mathcad users. In some instances, user-defined functions can be confusing and complicated, causing many users to ignore using them. After briefly discussing built-in functions, this chapter will focus on simple user-defined functions. The goal of this chapter is to make you comfortable with the concept and use of simple user-defined functions.
Chapter 3 will:
Introduce built-in functions.
Show how to insert built-in functions into your worksheet.
Discuss what an "argument" is.
Introduce user-defined functions.
Show different types of arguments.
Give examples of different function names and argument names.
Tell when to use a user-defined function.
Describe how to use variables in user-defined functions.
Give examples of user-defined functions in technical calculations.
Provide warnings about the use of functions.
Built-in functions range from very simple to very complex. Examples of simple built-in Mathcad functions are: sin(), cos(), ln(), and max(). Every Mathcad function is set-up in a similar way. The function name is given, followed by a pair of parenthesis. The information that is typed within the parenthesis is called the argument. Every function has a name and an argument. The function takes the information from the argument (contained within the parenthesis) and processes the information based on rules that are defined for the specific function, returning a...
