Name that Command

Name that Command

burr 1200819940|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Even though we have finished almost all of the commands, there are several commands that most of us have only used a few times and don't really know very well. So, I think it would be fun to make a game out of having people guess a command simply based on a few clues. This would test people's knowledge of the commands, and subsequently help them more fully learn the commands.

Once somebody has correctly guessed a command, that person can pick a new command. When posting a command challenge, please don't provide any obvious hints or other clues that will easily give the command away. For example, if you choose to use a simple command for your challenge, try to come up with some little known properties of the command or state the properties so that they are kind of ambiguous.

EDIT: I decided it's kind of wasteful to start a new topic for each command, when we can just use this topic. So, I deleted the other topic, and reposted the first command challenge here. I'm still waiting, though, for somebody to try and guess it.

last edited on 1200883974|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover by burr + show more

Command Challenge #1

burr 1200883798|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

• This command enjoys meeting others on their own level.
• This command works tirelessly for truth and justice.
• Nobody knows what this command is capable of until it is too late.

What command is it? Does anybody know? :D

Re: Command Challenge #1

DarkerLine 1200930753|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

The second clue makes me think it returns a truth value, and the first means it's not and (if you're referring to order of operations, that is). It could be or, xor, not(, any of the relational operators, or (though unlikely) pxl-Test( or isClockOn.

I don't get the third clue, though. I'm going to guess xor just because it's got the coolest name.

Re: Command Challenge #1

burr 1200933477|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

That was a good guess — that was it :P I thought the third clue was actually pretty straightforward: most people never bother using xor until after they are done writing a program. I guess you get to pick a new command.

Command Challenge #2

DarkerLine 1200938721|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

• This command is all show, no substance.
• Despite this, it's number one!
• It might be useful for looking at things from a new angle…

Re: Command Challenge #2

burr 1200971755|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

The first clue tells me that the command is basically useless, and doesn't really do anything. The second and third clues tell me that the command only really deals with numbers, although it looks like it works with other things. I'm going to guess the command is ►Frac.

Re: Command Challenge #2

DarkerLine 1200974586|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Close, but no cigar…

Re: Command Challenge #2

burr 1200976890|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Well, I guess I have to go back to the drawing board. The phrase "all show" in the first clue combined with the phrase "new angle" in the third clue would seem to indicate the imag( command.

Re: Command Challenge #2

burr 1201053317|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I take it imag( wasn't the right command? So, what was the command?

Re: Command Challenge #2

DarkerLine 1201057881|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I was thinking of ►DMS. First clue: it's a formatting command. Third clue: it deals with angles. Second clue: a bit tricky, but ►DMS is actually actually the first token, encoded by the value 1.

Re: Command Challenge #2

burr 1201062610|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

That second clue was the one that threw me off, since I wasn't even thinking about tokens :D

Challenge #3

Anonymous (153.104.176.78) 1201064183|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I didn't want you two to be alone…

In the ranks of TI-BASIC commands, there is one loner.
1. It needs its space.
2. It can stand only its own company.
3. It is frequently passed over when programmers gather all their programs.

-alexrudd.

Re: Challenge #3

burr 1201154786|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

This is a pretty good challenge :D None of the clues really stand out at me, but I'll take a shot in the dark anyway and guess the command is Menu(. My reasoning is because the Menu( command has its own screen that it uses, and subsequently it will cause a program to come to a halt when it is called.

Re: Challenge #3

DarkerLine 1201188803|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

And it's useful for combining lots of programs into one. I think you're on to something there.

Re: Challenge #3

hedidit 1201196499|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Hmm maybe GarbageCollect?

It's the longest command I know, it doens't use any variable/matrix/list/whatever there is left so it is on his own. And when you've got a lot of programs you will need it to get your programs together.

Re: Challenge #3

burr 1201202365|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

You're right, GarbageCollect would seem to make sense as well. I guess we'll just have to wait and see which command it is when alexrudd posts the answer.

Re: Challenge #3

Acro 1201307311|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I agree with burr. Menu( makes sense. But… so does GarbageCollect. But then again, I use menu( all the time in my programs. Hmm…

Re: Challenge #3

Anonymous (153.104.176.78) 1201308187|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Nope.

Clear Entries.

Re: Challenge #3

DarkerLine 1201313097|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Clear Entries bothers the more OCD aspects of my personality. Sure, it clears the entries, but then it messes them up again by putting itself in the entries! I have to clear all RAM to feel good about myself.

Command Challenge #4

burr 1201319565|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Time to start a new command challenge.

• This command is a proclamation for change.
• At the same time, it is stubborn and old-fashioned.
• Everywhere the calculator goes, this command is sure to follow.

Re: Command Challenge #4

Socks 1201642949|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

If…Then? It tests to see if change should happen, it only does it as it is written, and it's everywhere.

Re: Command Challenge #4

burr 1201644173|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

That's a good guess, but that's not it.

Re: Command Challenge #4

Socks 1201646152|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

GetKey then, because you can use it for almost anything, but it only works if the program builds around it, and keys are used throughout the calculator?

Re: Command Challenge #4

burr 1201647261|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Another good guess, and another not it.

Re: Command Challenge #4

Xphoenix 1201661147|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Lbl/Goto? The Lbl is a foreshadow that there's going to be a change in flow of the program, Goto looks for Lbl at the beginning and works its way down (old fashioned), and everywhere the calculators "goes" … It goes to a Lbl?

last edited on 1201661182|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover by Xphoenix + show more

Re: Command Challenge #4

burr 1201667786|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

That was the command. You get to come up with a command now :D

Command Challenge #5

Xphoenix 1201733806|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Excuse me if this isn't that good a riddle, I'm not good at making stuff like this up:

• This command differs from others of its type.
• This command it affected by variables other than its arguments.
• This command has several variations.

Re: Command Challenge #5

burr 1201831761|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I'm going to guess the Shade( command, since it is affected by the window variables and there are many arguments that are optional.

Re: Command Challenge #5

Xphoenix 1201838506|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Good guess, but it's simpler than that.

Re: Command Challenge #5

burr 1201838948|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Well, in that case, I think it's either Text( or Line(. I didn't put any rules about guessing more than one command at the same time, so this is a loop hole :D

Re: Command Challenge #5

Xphoenix 1201839353|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Nope. I guess my clues weren't so good … You're on the right track though.

Re: Command Challenge #5

burr 1201839903|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I believe that it is a graphics command, and the only one that makes sense to me is Circle(.

Re: Command Challenge #5

Xphoenix 1201842929|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Not the one I was thinking of … It is a graphics command though. ><
The one I was thinking of is here. I use a URL to not give away the command quite yet.
How do I make a spoiler …

last edited on 1201842967|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover by Xphoenix + show more

Re: Command Challenge #5

burr 1201846397|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

You can make a spoiler using the collapsible text block. Here is an example:

EDIT: Remove the collapsible block since it disables Xphoenix's spoiler.

last edited on 1201987115|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover by burr + show more

Re: Command Challenge #5

Xphoenix 1201972560|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Thanks.

+ show block

- hide block

1. Pt-On( is (kind of) different than other output commands such as Output( and Pxl-On( because it has row first instead of column
2. Affected by window vars
3. Three different point types

last edited on 1201990033|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover by burr + show more

Re: Command Challenge #5

burr 1201987240|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I tried messing with the collapsible blocks, but it appears that there isn't a way to make both work. It must be another bug in the wikidot engine. Anyway, I removed mine, so yours works now.

Command Challenge #6

burr 1201941773|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

• What once was two, this command combines into one.
• More complex operations are also available, although you need the right theorem.
• Only those of pure heart can hope to use this command.

Re: Command Challenge #6

Socks 1201972163|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

sub()? Because this combines two or more threads to get the answer, and it is complex, but you can use it to get most anything from a string, and it is fairly hard to figure out, and so for the pure hearted, as well as being good for optimization.

Re: Command Challenge #6

burr 1201978277|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Good guess, but not it.

Re: Command Challenge #6

Zaphod Beeblebrox 1202003712|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say augment(. For two reasons it combines two things into one. It handles both list and matrices. It's a guess.

Re: Command Challenge #6

burr 1202010227|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

What about the third clue?

Re: Command Challenge #6

Weregoose 1202026435|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I'm going to say tan(), because…

• sin(x)/cos(x) = tan(x)
• One of several "complex" operations which equal tan(z) is:

(1)

This is based on Euler's formula:

(2)

• The reading on an electrocardiogram to me looks like the graph of tan(x).

I might be off on a tangent, though – if you'll excuse the pun.

Re: Command Challenge #6

burr 1202027375|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I have to admit that I'm amazed somebody actually guessed it :D Well, you get to come up with a command now.

EDIT: I'm wondering how much time it took you to figure that out? I thought that was a difficult challenge.

last edited on 1202027961|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover by burr + show more

Re: Command Challenge #7

Weregoose 1202029869|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

It hit me when I dived into the CATALOG and saw cos(). More effort went into writing the post for the solution. In all, I spent under an hour.

Instead of starting a new challenge, I thought I'd share the names of three American television shows:

• Trading Spaces
• As the World Turns
• Without a Trace

last edited on 1202032653|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover by Weregoose + show more

Re: Command Challenge #7

Weregoose 1203908919|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Three weeks. I guess I'll reveal the answer: DrawInv. The clues can be explained as follows:

Trading Spaces – An inverse function may be generated by switching the independent variable with the dependent one, and then solving again for the independent variable; alternatively, the x-values are swapped with the y-values in the graphing of the original function.

As the World Turns – In retrospect, this is a somewhat dubious clue, as it only holds for functions which have a line of symmetry at x = 0; those which do have that, however, are given a 90° CW rotation about the origin. A better clue probably would have been Flipper, as the graph is reflected about the line y = x.

Without a Trace – The resulting graph cannot be traced like a normal graph. This clue is the most technical, and I was hoping it would send the opening signal towards finding the correct answer.

Lastly, just because this challenge wasn't yet peer-answerable doesn't mean it should rescind its spot at #7. Or maybe it should. *brushes self under the doormat* :)

last edited on 1203978267|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover by Weregoose + show more