Mathematical set display apparatus and method, and storage medium having program recorded thereon

• US 6,421,061 B1
• Filed: 01/27/1999
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Sudoh, Tomohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sajous, Wesner
• Application Number:
  US09/238,281
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 345/112, 345/131, 345/133, 345/418, 345/433, 345/643, 345/468, 345/501, 345/530, 345/531, 345/537-538, 345/204, 345/4, 345/467, 345/441, 706/13, 707/538, 707/526, 700/17
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F

Abstract

A set diagram display control apparatus performs a set diagram display process. When the elements or number count of each of a plurality of sets is input to a set relation list, the element counts of all set relations are calculated in accordance with the elements or element counts of those sets. A display range of a set diagram is determined in accordance with the input or calculated element counts. The areas of circular diagrams which compose the set diagram are displaced in correspondence to their elements counts in the displayed range. And the displayed positions and radii of the circular diagrams are determined depending on the element count of the set diagram, in order to display the set diagram as composed of the circular diagrams.

Claims

1. A mathematical set display apparatus comprising:

set expression storage means for storing an expression of mathematical sets;

set diagram display control means for controlling a display to display a set diagram which indicates a relation of sets corresponding to the expression of mathematical sets stored in the set expression storage means, wherein the set diagram comprises one of a plurality of circles and a plurality of ellipses which overlap with each other;

area designating means for designating a desired area in the set diagram displayed by the set diagram display control means; and

distinctive display control means for causing the display to display the area designated by the area designating means in a manner which is distinguishable from another area,

wherein the area designating means designates the desired area by inputting a mathematical set expression.

2. A recording medium which contains a computer readable set diagram display control program which causes a computer to function as:

a set expression storage means for storing an expression of mathematical sets;

a set diagram display control means for controlling a display to display a set diagram which indicates a relation of sets corresponding to the expression of mathematical sets stored, wherein the set diagram comprises one of a plurality of circles and a plurality of ellipses which overlap with each other;

an area designating means for designating a desired area in the set diagram; and

distinctive display control means for causing the display to display the designated area in a manner which is distinguishable from another area,

wherein the desired area is designated by inputting a mathematical set expression.

3. A mathematical set display method comprising:

a set expression storage step for storing an expression of mathematical sets;

a set diagram display control step for controlling a display to display a set diagram which indicates a relation of sets corresponding to the expression of stored mathematical sets, wherein the set diagram comprises one of a plurality of circles and a plurality of ellipses which overlap with each other;

an area designating step for designating a desired area in the displayed set diagram; and

a distinctive display control step for causing the display to display the designated area in a manner which is distinguishable from another area,

wherein the desired area is designated by inputting a mathematical set expression.