Scratch
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#1 2012-05-28 10:05:41
Missing features
I am using Scratch to teach the programming basics to beginners. In the "operators" section, I think there should be two more: a "power" operator (maybe like the ^ used in spreadsheets) and an "int" function (to get the integer part of a number). Any opinions?
Franco - Italy
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#2 2012-05-28 10:46:44
- RedRocker227
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2011-10-26
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Missing features
I support. Scratch has many missing blocks when it comes to Operators blocks.
Why
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#4 2012-05-28 11:07:00
Re: Missing features
Definitely. I always thought it was strange that it has trig functions and "e to the power of" and stuff, but not just plain power. I'm a little less sure about "int" (also known as
"floor") because it does have "round" which can be used for the same purpose with a little extra work (just subtract 0.5 first), but but there's certainly no harm in adding it anyway.
Last edited by ManaUser (2012-06-04 12:12:30)
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#5 2012-05-28 13:48:12
- scimonster
- Community Moderator
- Registered: 2010-06-13
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Re: Missing features
You can solve exponents like this: http://wiki.scratch.mit.edu/wiki/Solving_Exponents
Moderator | Scratch Wiki Administrator | Coders' Shed AdministratorScratch 2.0 is just around the corner! Prepare for the transition by beta testing. Your feedback will help make it the best it can be!
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#6 2012-05-28 19:52:27
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#7 2012-05-28 21:33:28
- DeltaFoxtrot07
- New Scratcher
- Registered: 2012-05-28
- Posts: 3
Re: Missing features
I agree with this because the program could be much easier to work with if we had some more blocks.
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#9 2012-05-28 21:56:42
- chanmanpartyman
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2011-05-30
- Posts: 500+
Re: Missing features
You can raise a number to another by doing one or the other. You get the same result either way.
([10 ^ v] of ((power) * ([log v] of (base)))) ([e ^ v] of ((power) * ([ln v] of (base))))
Last edited by chanmanpartyman (2012-05-28 21:57:24)
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#10 2012-05-29 09:32:55
- scimonster
- Community Moderator
- Registered: 2010-06-13
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Re: Missing features
I would like a (() ^ ()) block.
Moderator | Scratch Wiki Administrator | Coders' Shed AdministratorScratch 2.0 is just around the corner! Prepare for the transition by beta testing. Your feedback will help make it the best it can be!
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#11 2012-05-29 16:09:29
Re: Missing features
I took a look at the workarounds, but I am thinking about my students: they don't know logarithms (for the next two years, at least) and I would like something simpler than that loop. "power" and "int/floor" are staples in spreadsheets and other languages, I am asked by my students why they are not there. Could use "round", though.
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#13 2012-06-02 06:28:51
- joefarebrother
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- Registered: 2011-04-08
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Re: Missing features
Well you could show them the logarithm method and just say THAT it works, you don't need to explain HOW.
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#14 2012-06-04 08:46:04
Re: Missing features
I would prefer to avoid the "trust-me-you-will-learn-it-later" routine... It raises a wall, and, frankly, is not generally helpful at 13-14. Also, when they ask "it's there in Excel and Calc, why not here?", it's tough to answer. Of course, these may seem my personal considerations, but I know my kids well enough.
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#16 2012-06-04 09:16:22
Re: Missing features
roijac wrote:
You could modify the source code and add that block, but that wouldn't work online
By that logic, we would only need like 3 blocks to begin with to get us started and then we could just modify the source code to get more blocks 
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