Improve math skills of your kids - Learn step-by-step arithmetic from Math games

Math: Unknown - Step-by-step math calculation game for iOS.


Math: Unknown is much more than a math game. It is a step-by-step math calculation game which will teach users how to calculate in the correct order rather than just asking only the final calculated results.

The app consists of four basic arithmetic operations which are addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. In order to get started, users who are new to arithmetic can learn from animated calculation guides showing step-by-step procedures of solving each type of operation. It is also helpful for experienced users as a quick reference.

Generally, addition and subtraction may be difficult for users who just start learning math especially when questions require carrying or borrowing (also called regrouping). The app helps users to visualize the process of carrying and borrowing in the way it will be done on paper. Once users understand how these operations work, they are ready to learn multiplication and division.

For most students, division is considered as the most difficult arithmetic operation to solve. It is a common area of struggle since it requires prior knowledge of both multiplication and subtraction. To help users understand division, the app uses long division to teach all calculation procedures. Relevant multiplication table will be shown beside the question. Users will have to pick a number from the table which go into the dividend. Multiplication of selected number and divisor is automatically calculated, but the users have to do subtraction and drop down the next digit themselves. Learning whole calculation processes will make them master it in no time.

Math: Unknown is a helpful app for students who seriously want to improve arithmetic calculation skills.

Polynomial Cam Function (Introduction) - Part 1

Fundamental Law of Cam Design

(1) The cam function must be continuous through the first and second derivatives of displacement across the entire interval (360 degrees)*

(2) The jerk function must be finite across the entire interval (360 degrees)*
    * Source: Fundamentals of machine design 1st edition, Robert L. Norton, McGrawHill, page 388

    Normally the motion from cam cannot be defined by only a single mathematical expression, it consists of different equation on each different segment e.g. sector A-B uses cycloidal motion, sector B-C has dwell function (R=constant), sector C-D uses cycloidal motion again to come back to its starting point, and sector D-A has dwell function. We don't combine these 4 segments into only one equation, but we separate the functions to define the movement of cam follower behavior over each segment and make sure that there is no discontinuity in the displacement, velocity and acceleration functions.

    Any discontinuity in the acceleration function will lead to infinite spikes (derivative of acceleration). The derivative of acceleration is called "jerk". And infinite jerk is unacceptable because it will lead to high vibration of the mechanism.

    Cyloidal cam function is the example that jerk function has finite value. But cycloidal cam function has limited capability because it has to start from rest and end at rest again (start velocity = 0 and end velocity = 0). With the use of polynomial cam  function, we will have more freedom to fine tune the start and end velocity. This will help a lot to control the impact speed (if there is any) when using polynomial function together with linear function. We will discuss more about the derivation and the how to use. At the end, we will make an excel program to calculate the displacement, velocity and acceleration of the follower with necessary graphing details.

    I use fifth-degree polynomial in my design and I found it very useful to work in most application because I have more freedom to control the start and end velocity and can use it to connect to another function easier.

    General form of fifth-degree polynomial cam function is as follows:
    s = c0 + c1 x (b/bm) + c2 x (b/bm)2 + c3 x (b/bm)3 + c4 x (b/bm)4 + c5 x (b/bm)2

    In the [Polynomial Cam Function (Derivation of Fifth-degree function) - Part 2], we will set the necessary boundary conditions and solve for the values of all constants so that we can have the final equation of fifth-degree polynomial cam function to use in cam design.

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