Lesson 14 Part I

Lesson 14

Getting Started (Introduction to NumSolve and Probability, cont'd)

Before talking too much about memory, we will work with variables and try to develop a general understanding. So, let’s get started.

Part I

In this part, we will store a few values in variables and see what happens.

1. Storing and Accessing Variables

2. Viewing Variables in the Variable Manager

The ClassPad has a very useful dialog called the Variable Manager. This dialog lets you see which variables you have defined.

3. Accessing Variables from Other Applications

4. Accessing Variables from within the Unique eActivity

My hope is that this diagram will give you a general understanding of the ClassPad’s memory management.

What I am trying to say is:

All applications EXCEPT eActivity share variables. The variables are called “global” because everyone can see them.
Each eActivity you open has its own memory space for storing variables. When you define a variable in eActivity, only that eActivity can see it. This is why we call variables in an eActivity “local variables”.
We can use global variables in an eActivity by changing the current folder or inputting something like main\a. The “main\” part is called a path to the variable.
As you know, within a vcp file eActivities are saved in the eActivities folder. All other application data is stored in the Other Data folder.
One more interesting note. When we open an eActivity it is loaded into its own area of mcs memory so that we can work with it. When we save an eActivity it is saved back into the flash memory area.

Part I

Practice Exercises

Before beginning the practice exercises, open a word document, type in the following information and then save it as Lesson14 in your CASIO folder within My Documents:

Date: (enter today's date)
To: (put your instructor's name here)
From: (put your name here)
Re: Lesson 14

Open the Main application and store a 2x2 matrix in the letter M. Hint: Open the soft keyboard and look in the 2D pages.
Open Geometry and draw a figure (anything).
Save the Geometry file with a name for Drawing.
Open Spreadsheet and input some data (anything).
Save the Spreadsheet file with the name Data.
Open the Variable Manager and double click on the main folder.
With the Variable Manager open and the variables you saved showing, get a screen capture. Paste it into your Lesson14 document (under a title of PART I).
Notice the different types of data. This is because you saved different types of data!
Check the ab, abc and Data variables and then delete them. Hint: Edit/Delete.
With the other variables showing, get a screen capture. Add two blank spaces following the first screen capture and then paste this one.
Close the Variable Manager dialog.
Open the eActivity application and clear the window.
Display the contents of variable M by inputting main\M. Remember to change to a Math line first!
With the contents of variable M showing, get a screen capture. Add two blank spaces following the last screen capture and then paste this one.
There is an easy way to clear the contents of all variables. Open either the Main or eActivity application and select Edit/Clear All Variables whenever you want to clear all variables!