[Edu-sig] More calculus in Python

[Arthur]

>>Not either/or, but no concrete plans over here right now.

>>Kirby


Turns out there is no more to plotting the function and its derivative using
Vpython than adding this your calc.py module:
 

if __name__ == "__main__":

   newp = p1 * p1 * p1

   from visual.graph import *

   uplot = gcurve(color=color.cyan) # a connected curve object

   for x in arange(-5, 6.1, 0.1): # x goes from -5 to 6
       uplot.plot(pos=(x,newp.u(x))) # plot


   uplot = gcurve(color=color.red) # a connected curve object

   for x in arange(-5., 6.1, 0.1): # x goes from -5 to 6
       uplot.plot(pos=(x,newp.du(x))) # plot


By varying the definition of newp one gets some quick visual feedback of the
"shape" of functions and their derivatives. All to better effect, IMO, than
the static illustrations one sees in a text - assuming that following the
logic of the calc.py code is a required part of the learning process.  

Not that following the logic of the code is particularly easy - but at least
one's efforts can be concentrated on just that - following the *logic* -
the code as code, in Python, being pretty transparent. 

Art