
WHAT IS JKMATH14.ZIP?
=====================

JKMATH14.ZIP is a mini math package.  It consists of a few files selected
from a larger collection or package of files that are designed to help
promote the learning and teaching of mathematics.  The programs are useful
for both students and teachers.  The level is primarily for lower division
community college math courses, but these programs are also useful to high
school students and math teachers at almost any level.  The 14 in the
filename represents version 1.4.


WHY DISTRIBUTE A MINI PACKAGE?
==============================

There is a real problem distributing multi-megabytes of documentation and
programs over bulletin board systems and the INTERNET.  Although high-speed
modems and file compression help, they don't solve the problem.  The more
capacity one has the more tempting it is to fill the void.  Not everyone has
a high-speed modem, but even so, most users hesitate before downloading an
unusually large file.  The cost/time/benefit ratio is unknown until after the
download is complete and the file contents are sampled and tried.

If JKMATH14 were to contain the complete package of 23 programs it would be
about 4MB in size (1.6MB compressed) and most users and systems would not
consider it practical to download.  If JKMATH14 were much smaller it would
not contain enough goodies to be representative of the entire package.

JKMATH14.ZIP contains four programs (16 files) and is under 500KB in size.
When the four programs and their corresponding documentation are uncompressed
the files occupy over 1.2 MB of space.

The current versions of these programs are freely distributable and if you
are a teacher or a student you are encouraged to share these programs with
your classmates.  The whole point is to make some useable software freely
available to anyone interested in furthering their experience with the
computer.

While there are other commerical and shareware packages available, their cost
may sometimes prohibit or limit their usefulness.  You can freely copy and
use this software with a clear conscience.  Understand that payment to the
author occurs when you further your own education and thereby make the world
a more enlightened place in which to live.


JKMATH14.ZIP FILE INDEX
=======================

Filename      One-Line Description
-----------   ----------------------------------------------------------------
MATRIX .EXE   Matrix program; can be used to teach row operation algorithms.
MATRIX .HLP   Binary help file to accompany the MATRIX.EXE program.
MATRIX .ICO   Icon file to accompany the MATRIX.EXE program.
MATRIX .TXT   Tutorial text file for the MATRIX.EXE program.
YFUNX  .EXE   Function graphing/analysis; good for beginning calculus.
YFUNX  .ICO   Icon file to accompany the YFUNX.EXE program.
YFUNX  .TXT   Tutorial text file for the YFUNX.EXE program.
GALTON .EXE   Probability simulator; Pascal's Triangle via probability.
GALTON .ICO   Icon file to accompany the GALTON.EXE program.
GALTON .TXT   Tutorial text file for the GALTON.EXE program.
CALC   .EXE   General Purpose RPN calculator (5 basic data types).
CALC   .HLP   Binary help file to accompany the CALC.EXE program.
CALC   .ICO   Icon file to accompany the CALC.EXE program.
CALC   .TXT   Tutorial text file for the CALC.EXE program.
README .TXT   Complete package description; abstracts of all 23 programs.
READ1ST.TXT   Preliminary file which you are now reading.


The MATRIX and YFUNX programs are very practical and easy to learn and use.
These are the two most popular programs in the package.  MATRIX has an
attractive user interface with context-sensitive hypertext help and should
satisfy most needs for basic computations with small matrices.  YFUNX can be
used to graph and perform several different kinds of analysis on functions of
one variable.  The GALTON and CALC programs are simply for intellectual
entertainment, and motivation and experimentation.

If you find the programs in JKMATH14.ZIP useful and would like more, you can
can get the complete package which contains 23 programs.  One method of
distribution, (if also slow and awkward) is sending high density floppy disks
through snailmail.  The instructions for doing this as well as instructions
for obtaining some of the files via the Internet are in the file README.TXT.


WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NEXT?
========================

Read the file called README.TXT before doing anything else.  All the
preliminary information you need is described in README.TXT.  Other *.TXT
files are also for your reading pleasure, but README.TXT is the best place to
start because it contains an overview of the entire package and has a list of
program abstracts which detail each program's purpose, scope and capabilities.

You may also find it convenient to print each tutorial text file on paper
before running the corresponding program.  Then you can read and perform the
steps described in the tutorial while you view the relevant output on the
screen.
