symbolic computation?

[happybird]

Hellow!

anybody can tell me does Labview has the capability to do symbolic computations? for example:

I have a variable X whose value is unkonw.if i want to do:

y=X*X+3*X

is it possible to do it? thanks!

[tst]

You create a numeric control, wire it into a Multiply and an Add node, and wire the results into another Add node.

This is basically the simplest thing you can do in LV. Have you tried learning about it at all?

To learn more about LabVIEW, I suggest you try searching this site and google for LabVIEW tutorials. Here and here are a couple you can start with. You can also contact your local NI office and join one of their courses.
In addition, I suggest you read the LabVIEW style guide and the LabVIEW user manual (Help>>Search the LabVIEW Bookshelf).

[happybird]

Actually,it is not what i mean,the value of the variable must be known for the way you talk about(we must define a value for a variable). but symbolic is the variable whose value is unknown.  

Message Edited by happybird on 08-02-2005 04:45 PM

[tst]

Do you want to get the result of the formula or use just the formula itself?

To get the result, you have to have the value known.

To use the formula for some other things, try looking at the Ananlyze>>Mathematics>>Formula palette. I'm not sure if the VIs there can help, nor if there are any VIs that can help. It might be necessary to write them yourself.

I will just stress that this isn't my area, so I don't really know.

[LV_Pro]

As tst asks, what do you want to see as a result, the answer to the computation? Or are you asking is there a way to enter a formula to be evaluated? If it is the later then you might want to look into the formula node in the "structures" pallette. If it is a means to do it from the front panel, well I have seen a VI that allowed the entry of equations on the front panel there are some interesting examples in the "Find Examples" under the LabVIEW "Help" pulldown. That is always a good place to start, they keep adding examples. Some aren't as complete as would be nice, but there are many that give starting points for much of LabVIEW's capabilities.

P.M.

[happybird]

Thanks a lot for your help!