9.5.2

1116 • CHAPTER 22
XPRESSO EDITOR • 1117
Math Node
The Math node carries out its calculations using the data type that is dened in the Attribute manager.
If the node receives input values of a different data type, they are converted to the Math node’s data
type before the calculation takes place. The Math node allows more than two inputs to be used,
whereas the FloatMath node is limited to two inputs.
FloatMath Node
This node, on the other hand, always carries out its calculations using the Real data type. If the node
receives input values of a data type other than Real, they will be converted to the type Real before
the operation is performed. In the case of an input value of the type Vector, the length of the vector
will be used.
Formula
The Formula node outputs the result of a mathematical formula. Enter the formula on the Attribute
manager’s Node page. The node’s inputs and outputs are set to the data type Real. You can integrate
as many variables as you wish in the formula. Create an input for each variable and represent the
variables in the formula by entering ‘$’ followed by the variable’s port number. For example, the
formula ‘2*$1+$2’ means ‘multiply the value at port 1 by the number two, then add the result to the
value at port 2’.
The Formula node enables you to enter values in degrees as well as in radians. On the Attribute
manager’s Node Properties page, choose the system you want to use — radians or degrees — using
the Angle Type drop-down list.
By checking the Use Portnames checkbox, you can use the actual input port names of the node
In addition to basic math operations, you can use functions such as COS (cosine), SIN (sine), SQRT
(square root) and EXP (Exponential function) as well as constants such as Pi. For a list of all operators,
functions and constants, see the Appendices of this manual.