Intermediate Maths 1

ZX Computing

Jim Lock

READERS REVIEWS Taking pen in hand, you tell us what the public really think about the goods on sale. INTERMEDIATE MATHS 1 Rose Software Jim Lock £4.95 Intermediate Maths 1 by Rose Software consists of six programs dealing with long multiplication, long division and fractions. The program package is attractively cased with an inlay card which gives the potential purchaser a clear description of each program's contents. The six programs are recorded separately, three to each side of the cassette. Loading a program also loads, line by line, a screen showing the producer's "Tudor Rose" logo in high resolution and a "welcome" message. You are then asked to type in your name and the current date before the program itself begins. "Long multiplication" offers the choice of two levels of difficulty, multiplying either two 2-digit numbers or two 3-digit numbers. Instructions are available if required and it is not a good idea to skip these, unless you have had previous experience with the program, as they show you how to enter your answers and, perhaps more importantly, how to "rub out" errors! A sample run is then worked through line by line and your first question appears. You use the screen display in exactly the same way as a pencil and paper when working out the answer, entering each line of working, one number at a time, starting from the right-hand side. If you make an error, pressing "R" will erase the last number printed. When each line is completed, you press "Enter" and when all your lines have been displayed, the program prompts you to add them all up and enter the final answer, again starting from the right. The program thoughtfully includes a "Help" facility for those who are really stuck - pressing " H" enables you to see the whole sum worked out in immaculate fashion. It will also do this if you answered incorrectly. Your score so far, of correct and incorrect answers, is shown and the option of continuing with the program is offered. Having opted, an animated "reward sequence" of a five-pin bowling alley is shown. The more correct answers you have scored, the greater the number of pins knocked down. Five pins down wins you a "strike" and a congratulatory tune. The second program is "Long division" and they are not kidding - the worked example is 8112 34! As with the previous program, answers and working are entered exactly as you would write them. To save you losing your place in the sum, after each phase of working is completed, the program brings down the next number for you. There is no messing around with decimals answers are given as whole numbers plus remainder. The reward sequence for this program shows a rocket being launched at the moon, and you only need three correct answers to succeed. The next two programs demonstrate, with well worked examples, how to use prime numbers to calculate the highest common factor and lowest common multiple of a series of fractions. Both programs incorporate the useful option of entering rough working, in several stages if necessary. The usual "Help" facility is available and if used, will show you all the prime number combinations and then leave you to enter the answer. As with the first program, five correct answers are rewarded with a complete sequence of animated graphics and sound, while less than five correct means correspondingly less of the sequence shown. With the "factor" program, you get a train crash (!), and with the "multiple" program, a caterpillar reaching some food, growing fat and turning into a butterfly. The final two programs on the cassette are "Fractions 1", which tests your ability to add and subtract fractions, and "Fractions 2", which deals with their multiplication and division. The instructions for both programs explain the terms "numerator" and "denominator" and remind you to express your final answer in the lowest possible terms. The division sign used in the instructions looks rather odd, being made up from the Spectrum character set. In the questions themselves however, a user defined graphic is used, which looks much tidier! The usual worked examples are provided at the start of each program, and the "enter working" and "help" facility are included. The reward sequences are, respectively, an archery target and moving arrow (which was obviously loosed by Robin Hood), and a repeat of the bowling alley seen previously. With any of the six programs, opting not to continue at any stage prints a certificate of achievement on the screen, showing your your name, the date, program name and your percentage score. If you have been foolish enough to show your offspring or pupils how to use the printer, you run the risk of finding all your expensive rolls of paper turned into scholastic records!! The programs in "Intermediate Maths 1" have been well designed to provide a real challenge to the user. It is a pleasure to see software which sets it's sights higher than the elementary "table-tester" and "simple sum" level. Careful attention to program detail is demonstrated by the inclusion of help and erase facilities, while the option of entering working is an original and most concept. The reward sequences all make good use of the Spectrum's sound and graphics capabilities and are great fun. At only £4.95 for over 100K of soundly based and well produced programs, this cassette offers almost unbeatable value for money. I cannot recommend it too highly.