Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: The Algebra Coach and some of the Technology Suite programs give nonsense results such as 1.3 multiplied by 3 equals 3. Why is this happening? How can I fix it?
  
  A: This problem occurs if you live in a region or country that uses the comma (,) as the decimal separator in numbers. To work around the problem you can change the Region setting on your computer to any region that uses the period (.) as the decimal separator.  To do this click on the Windows Start button, then on Control Panel, then on Regional and Language Options, and then change the Standards and Formats listbox to say, English (Canada), like this:
  
  
  
  After you have finished using the programs you can change the Region setting back to what it was.
  
  The problem occurs because the Algebra Coach and the other programs were designed to use the period (.) as the decimal separator for numbers and to use the comma (,) as the separator for equations. For example you must type in 3.14 and not 3,14 to enter the approximate value of pi.
  
  If the Region is set to, say, Germany, (which it is if you buy a computer in Germany) and you type in 3.14 then Windows interprets this as the integer 314 because in Germany the period is the thousands separator.  On the other hand if you type in 3,14 then the Algebra Coach interprets this as a list of two equations.
  
  We intend to make the programs international in the next release and this will correct this problem.
   

• Q: The Algebra Coach program won't factor x^2 + 2x + 5. Why?
  
  A: This quadratic only factors over the complex numbers. Make sure that the complex numbers option is turned on.
  
  
  
• Q: I downloaded the files but I can't find them.  Where are they?
  
  A: One way to find it them is to start the download procedure again (but don't actually download the files again). Instead just check in the dialog box where your downloaded files were put. Then press Cancel.
  
  
  
• Q: Why won't the program install?
  
  A: Make sure you are double-clicking on the setup program called setup.exe and not one of the other files. (In particular don't extract the contents of the .cab file. This won't set up the program.)