Description
Problem Statement Matrix and Vector math can be complicated and hard, but is a vital thing to understand in college-level math for various fields of study, especially computer graphics and artificial intelligence. Having a calculator to help with basic calculations can help users focus on the results and understanding than tedium after initial skills have been learned in class. By making matrices/vector math more discoverable and easier to process, we can make the skills required for these advanced fields more approachable.
Evidence or User Insights There are many online matrix calculators available. Having one available inbox that works offline would be a great benefit, just like #338.
Inspired by this comment on #512.
Proposal
I think these modes are combined as matrix math can lead to a vector which then may want to be manipulated. They could also have similar interfaces to be shared, so it could make sense for them to overlap. The keyboard should be contextual anyway and only highlight/enable operations that make sense for the current state of the calculator.
This mode should allow a user to visually set the vector/matrix/matrices size(s) and click with in each cell to enter values (or use number keys and return to enter a value and then proceed to next empty cell or arrow keys to navigate cells). They should be able to see a single matrix or two matrices to perform operations involving 1 or 2 matrices.
After performing an operation, the matrix display should update to show the resulting matrix/value. The user should be able to click within their history to also restore the original matrices states from before the operation (i.e. to go back a step and re-perform a different operation).
Goals
- Perform single matrix operations (Transpose, Inverse, Rank, Determinate, Power, etc...)
- Perform two matrix operations (Add, Subtract, Multiple, Divide)
- Work with Vectors and dot/cross product as well
- Able to restore working state from History
- Click in matrix cell to modify value
- Use arrow keys to navigate matrix cells
- Enter matrix values efficiently with keyboard
Non-Goals
Low-Fidelity Concept
Requested Assignment I'm just suggesting this idea. I don't want to implement it.