calc-extension

(C) Martin Väth [email protected]

This project is under the GNU Public License 2.0.

A WebExtension: Calculate values of mathematical expressions

The extension strives to be useful for everybody quickly needing brief or mid-long calculations: in daily “browser” life, as a mathematician, or as a programmer - there is support for all needs.

Formulas can be entered in the typical mathematician's or programmer's syntax - both is understood. There is also support for lengthy sessions (saving/restoring, exporting to clipboard, etc).

The original motivation was to experiment with a Pratt parser. There is already a much richer expression syntax than in most languages (implicit multiplication signs, no braces necessary for function calls), and it would be simple to extend the syntax to a more full-blown “language”. (In fact, earlier versions of calc-extension had a simpler syntax. Readers interested in the parser implementation can check data/js/parser.js).

After installing calc-extension, it can be used as follows.

Click the calc-extension symbol 1+2 or the link on the options page. Then a page opens where you can enter a formula (see below) which will be calculated when you press the solver button (~>). (There is an option to use the enter key instead if you prefer.) The result is then shown and you can enter the next formula. You can also go back to an earlier entered formula and “recalculate” it (e.g. after you modified some variables). To remove a formula from your list, simply remove the main formula text and press the solver button.

A simple formula is a usual mathematical expression which consists of numbers, the usual operators + - * / and braces ( ). As usual in mathematics (though not in most computer languages), it is possible to omit the multiplication sign *. However:

Be aware that x means the variable x and not a multiplication sign!

For multiplication use instead one of the symbols * · × or simply omit it (a space can be used to separate adjacent tokens). The division symbol is / or :.

Numbers have the usual floating-point format, e.g. 17 0.1 1.2e-3, or they can be octal or hexadecimal: For an octal number start with 0, for a hexadecimal number start with 0x.

There are further operators which can be used in expressions:

• % remainder (“modulo”)
• **or ↑ exponentiation (binds from right to left)
• & bitwise AND
• | bitwise OR
• ^ bitwise XOR

There are also some mathematical functions available. Note that functions bind stronger than all binary operators, i.e. sin PI/2 is the same as sin(PI)/2 but differs from sin(PI/2).

• sin the sine, argument is in radians
• cos the cosine, argument is in radians
• tan the tangent, argument is in radians
• asin the arcsine, in radians
• acos the arccosine, in radians
• atan the arctangent, in radians
• sinh the hyperbolic sine
• cosh the hyperbolic cosine
• tanh the hyperbolic tangent
• asinh the hyperbolic areasine
• acosh the hyperbolic areacosine
• atanh the hyperbolic areatangent
• log10 the base 10 logarithm
• log2 the base 2 logarithm
• log the natural logarithm (base E)
• log1p log(1+x) where x is the argument
• exp the exponential function (base E)
• expm1 exp x - 1 where x is the argument
• sqrt the square root, that is sqrt x = x ** (1/2)
• cbrt the cube root, that is cbrt x = x ** (1/3)
• abs the absolute value
• sign the signum (1, 0, or -1)
• floor the value rounded down to an integer
• ceil the value rounded up to an integer
• trunc the value rounded to the integer of smaller absolute value
• round the value rounded to its nearest integer
• fround the value rounded to its nearest 32 bit float
• clz32 the number of leading zero bits in a 32 bit representation

Furthermore, there are constants available:

• E Euler's number exp 1
• PI or π the circle number acos -1
• SQRT2 sqrt 2
• SQRT1_2 sqrt 1/2
• LN2 log 2
• LN10 log 10
• LOG2E log2 E
• LOG10E log10 E
• EPSILON or ε the distance of 1 to the smallest larger floating point number

Finally, it is possible to define variables with e.g. a=... and to use them. Variable names must only consist of English characters, numbers, or _.

The names of the functions and constants and operator precedence is similar to that of javascript. However, functions in javascript require braces, and the multiplication sign must not omitted.

The following things are further extensions:

There is a special variable name # which always refers to the result of the last (succesful) calculation.

There are also special sequences which can occur anywhere in an expression and which cause options to switch (you can also switch them by the mouse). To modify options more permanently (also for future sessions even across browser restarts), you have to store them or use the preferences window.

• 'width:height' textarea size
• "base" switch output to base (2-36)
• ! new input fields are textareas (multiple lines)
• ? new input fields are for single lines

The actual calculation of the functions and number conversion occurs by javascript calls. Therefore, mathematical properties like available precision, error messages, number limitations, and possible inaccuracies (and possibly even bugs) are inherited from the javascript interpreter.

Example session

• 1 + 2(1+1) + (2-1)(3-2)
• ~> 6
• 1·1 + 1×1 + 1 1 + 1*1
• ~> 4
• 2↑2↑3 - 2**8 + 4/3 - 1:3
• -> 1
• 1 - cos π/2 + cos(PI/2)
• ~> 1.5
• a = 3(# + 1)
• ~> 7.5
• # + 4a
• ~> 37.5
• 0xF | 0100 "16"
• ~> 4f (in base 16)

Permissions

The extension requires the storage permission in order to store options/accordion state and possibly a session on local storage.

Languages

Currently, the following languages are supported:

• en (default language)
• de