Wondering, how to calculate more with Windows 7? Windows 7 provides you with two good options to make more calculations that are extremely easy to use. First is the Calculator and another option is the Math input panel.
A calculator in Windows 7 may look like that of Windows Vista, but don’t go after the looks! The calculator has got a mode menu, explore it and you will discover new Statistics and Programmer views. You can choose to use the ‘Options’ menu if you don’t know about bitwise manipulations.
It also offers conversions of units in different areas like length, weight, volume, etc. Date calculations allow calculating the number of days between two dates. It also features templates that are like spreadsheets and are helpful in calculating mortgage rates, vehicle mileage, etc.
Next is the Math Input Panel. It is the geekiest accessory in Windows 7. It can be accessed under the Accessories folder in ‘All Programs’. It is helpful if your documents and presentations have mathematical expressions included in them. It offers an easier and more natural way of doing the same.
It makes use of a math recognizer for recognizing handwritten mathematical expressions. This recognizer is a part of Windows 7. The recognized math can be used in a document or a computational program. It is designed to be used on a tablet PC with its special pen but can be also used with a touch-screen or a mouse.
Using the Math Input Panel
- Launch Math Input Panel from Accessories under ‘All Programs’. In its writing area, write a syntactically and semantically correct mathematical expression.
- The preview area shows recognized math.
- For inserting recognized math in your document or computational program, hit insert. Make sure that your computational program supports Mathematical Markup Language (MathML); only then you can insert it into your computational program.
Correcting Expressions
- If the preview area is not showing what you wrote but something else; it means your math is misrecognized.
- To make corrections, you can hold down the pen button or perform its right-click equivalent and draw a circle around the misrecognized part of the expression. If you want to select an individual symbol, tap the symbol and perform right-click equivalent.
- Alternatively, you can click the ‘Select and Correct’ button and then tap the symbol or draw a circle to select a part of the expression. Then select a replacement from the list.
- If the list does not bear what you wrote, try rewriting the selected part of the expression. When done, hit insert to insert recognized math into an active program.
- For continuing writing, select the ‘Write to continue writing’ button.
- Avoid making corrections in the expression before completing it. This enhances the chances of your text being recognized.
History Menu
- It is furnished with a History menu that helps in using an already written expression as a base for writing a new one. This is helpful when you have to write similar expressions time and again. For instance, when calculating a mathematical proof.
- For using history, hit the history button and then click or tap on the expression you want to be incorporated as the baseline of the new expression. This brings your handwritten expression to the writing area.
- Here, you can make changes to the expression. When you are done with the changes, it is shown in the preview area. If recognized correctly, you can simply insert this expression into your word processing or computational program.
This is a great tool if you have to make use of mathematical expressions again and again.
