NuCalc
Encyclopedia
NuCalc, also known as Graphing Calculator, is a computer software
tool made by the company Pacific Tech. The tool can perform many graphing calculator functions. It can graph inequalities and vector field
s, as well as function
s in two, three, or four dimension
s. It supports several different coordinate system
s, and can solve equation
s. It is available for Mac OS
(under the name Graphing Calculator) and Microsoft Windows
.
computers since its introduction in 1994. This means that it was shipped on more than 20 million machines, and is the most familiar version of the program. This version of Graphing Calculator was secretly developed at Apple by Ron Avitzur
, an abandoned contractor who felt obligated to complete the project, and his friend and colleague Greg Robbins. They also made a version for older 680x0 Macintosh computers called NuCalc 1.0. In 2005 This American Life
featured Avitzur's story in episode 284, Should I Stay or Should I go?
Later models of Power Macintosh computers included newer versions of the Graphing Calculator program. At one time, versions were available for free download for Mac OS 9
, Mac OS X 10.3
and Mac OS X 10.4
. However, these versions may lack some of the features of the original version 1.0 program and may include promotion for the more advanced, commercial version of the software. A Windows version (offered for sale) was at one time renamed NuCalc.
, the latest commercial version was Graphing Calculator 3.
. Pacific Tech also offers free-of-charge downloads of a viewer for saved graphs, for the same three platforms.
Computer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
tool made by the company Pacific Tech. The tool can perform many graphing calculator functions. It can graph inequalities and vector field
Vector field
In vector calculus, a vector field is an assignmentof a vector to each point in a subset of Euclidean space. A vector field in the plane for instance can be visualized as an arrow, with a given magnitude and direction, attached to each point in the plane...
s, as well as function
Function (mathematics)
In mathematics, a function associates one quantity, the argument of the function, also known as the input, with another quantity, the value of the function, also known as the output. A function assigns exactly one output to each input. The argument and the value may be real numbers, but they can...
s in two, three, or four dimension
Dimension
In physics and mathematics, the dimension of a space or object is informally defined as the minimum number of coordinates needed to specify any point within it. Thus a line has a dimension of one because only one coordinate is needed to specify a point on it...
s. It supports several different coordinate system
Coordinate system
In geometry, a coordinate system is a system which uses one or more numbers, or coordinates, to uniquely determine the position of a point or other geometric element. The order of the coordinates is significant and they are sometimes identified by their position in an ordered tuple and sometimes by...
s, and can solve equation
Equation
An equation is a mathematical statement that asserts the equality of two expressions. In modern notation, this is written by placing the expressions on either side of an equals sign , for examplex + 3 = 5\,asserts that x+3 is equal to 5...
s. It is available for Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
(under the name Graphing Calculator) and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
.
History
The Graphing Calculator 1.0 software has been bundled for free on all Power MacintoshPower Macintosh
Power Macintosh, later Power Mac, was a line of Apple Macintosh workstation-class personal computers based on various models of PowerPC microprocessors that were developed, marketed, and supported by Apple Inc. from March 1994 until August 2006. The first models were the Power Macintosh 6100,...
computers since its introduction in 1994. This means that it was shipped on more than 20 million machines, and is the most familiar version of the program. This version of Graphing Calculator was secretly developed at Apple by Ron Avitzur
Ron Avitzur
Ron Avitzur is a software developer. He worked with Apple Computer in the early 1990s. After Apple cancelled his project, Graphing Calculator, he, together with his friend Greg Robbins, continued to work for free, sneaking into the building every day in order to continue development of the software...
, an abandoned contractor who felt obligated to complete the project, and his friend and colleague Greg Robbins. They also made a version for older 680x0 Macintosh computers called NuCalc 1.0. In 2005 This American Life
This American Life
This American Life is a weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass. It is distributed by Public Radio International on PRI affiliate stations and is also available as a free weekly podcast. Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays,...
featured Avitzur's story in episode 284, Should I Stay or Should I go?
Later models of Power Macintosh computers included newer versions of the Graphing Calculator program. At one time, versions were available for free download for Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apple's Mac OS before the launch of Mac OS X. Introduced on October 23, 1999, Apple positioned it as "The Best Internet Operating System Ever," highlighting Sherlock 2's Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as...
, Mac OS X 10.3
Mac OS X v10.3
Mac OS X Panther is the fourth major release of Mac OS X, Apple’s desktop and server operating system. It followed Mac OS X v10.2 "Jaguar" and preceded Mac OS X Tiger...
and Mac OS X 10.4
Mac OS X v10.4
Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger is the fifth major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Tiger was released to the public on 29 April 2005 for US$129.95 as the successor to Mac OS X Panther , which had been released 18 months earlier...
. However, these versions may lack some of the features of the original version 1.0 program and may include promotion for the more advanced, commercial version of the software. A Windows version (offered for sale) was at one time renamed NuCalc.
, the latest commercial version was Graphing Calculator 3.
Product
Editions of Graphing Calculator Version 3 are available for Mac OS 9, Mac OS X and Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. Pacific Tech also offers free-of-charge downloads of a viewer for saved graphs, for the same three platforms.