A dynamic APL GUI equation solver (ADAGE)

ABSTRACT

This paper describes ADAGE, (A Dynamic APL GUI Equation solver), which allows the user to solve a single multivariate equation when values are supplied for all but one of the variables. The application presents a graphical user interface and uses many of the newer features of Dyalog APL. These include dynamic functions and operators, recursion with tail calls, object syntax, and namespace reference array expansion. All of these features, combined with some key mathematical concepts, including function composition, implicit functions and the Secant algorithm, work together to provide a simple solution to a complex problem. Several examples from the mortgage industry will be explored.

REFERENCES

• 1: Burden and Faires, Numerical Analysis, Fourth Edition, PWS-Kent, 1989
• 2: Fabozzi, The Handbook of Mortgage Backed Securities, Revised Edition, Probus Publishing, 1988
• 3: Stephen M. Mansour, How to write an APL utility function, ACM SIGAPL APL Quote Quad, v.28 n.4, p.6-10, June 1998

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications

          Nouns: APL

Additional Classification:
  G. Mathematics of Computing
  G.1 NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
      G.1.0 General

General Terms:
Algorithms, Languages