Mathtest 3.00 Help File
**H1
@ZWELCOME
Welcome to Mathtest. This math game lets you practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems.

After leaving this help screen, press <I> for more information about this program.

@ZHELP
Help is available for almost every screen in Mathtest.  Press the <F1> key for more information on the screen that you currently see.

@ZSPEEDKEYS
SpeedKeys lets you practice your speed with the number keys on your keyboard.

After leaving this help screen, press <K> to go to Speedkeys. Then, press <F1> for more help.

@ZQUITTING
Press the <ESC> key to quit what you are doing. When the Quit Screen appears, press <ESC> to exit Mathtest.

@ZDOCUMENTATION
See the documentation for information on command-line options and other features which are not presented here.
**H2
@ZSPEEDKEYS
SpeedKeys lets you practice your speed and accuracy with the number keys on your keyboard.

When you start the game, type the key that matches the flashing number on the screen. After twenty numbers flash, you will see how fast you are. The lowest score is the best.

Be sure <NUM LOCK> is ON if you use the numbers on the right side of the keyboard.
**H3
@ZHELP ON HELP
Press the <F1> key to see help information on the screen that you currently see.

You can press <ESC> to exit help, or the <ENTER> key to go to the next help screen, if one is present.  Pressing <PG DN> or the Page Down key will also go to the next help screen.
**H4
@ZTHE INFORMATION SCREEN
The text displayed on the screen explains what Mathtest does. There are three screens of text.
**H5
@ZMAIN MENU
This screen allows you to select what kind of math problems you want.

You can move the menu bar up and down by using the up and down arrow keys. To select your choice, press the <ENTER> key.

@ZTHE SELECTIONS
You can play Mathtest with addition problems, subtraction problems, multiplication problems, and division problems.

You can also use both addition and subtraction, which are mixed together. You can do the same with multiplication and division.

Finally, you can select "Mixed Operations", which randomly mixes all four operations.
**H6
@ZOPTIONS SCREEN
Use the up and down arrow keys to move the menu bar up and down. To change the second, third, fourth, or fifth options, move the menu bar and hit the <ENTER> key. If the option has a check-mark to the left of it, that option is turned on. More than one of these options may be turned on at any time.

To change the last three options, move the menu bar your option and hit the <ENTER> key. Another menu, called a submenu, will appear, giving you several choices. For more help, hit the <F1> key when you see a submenu.

@ZTHE SELECTIONS
@FBSolve Horizontal Problems:@FD When this option is selected, math problems are displayed horizontally. Entry-boxes for carrying and borrowing (also called scratchwork boxes) do not appear in horizontal problems.

@FBFind Parts of Problems:@FD When this option is selected, math problems appear in one of three ways, similar to these examples:
    3 + 9 = @S0__
    3 + @S0__@S1 = 12
    @S0__@S1 + 9 = 12

@FBUse Negative Numbers:@FD Select this option to allow both positive and negative numbers to appear in your math problems.

@FBSolve with Decimals:@FD Numbers in math problems may have decimal points.

@FBSkill Level:@FD This determines how large the numbers may be in the math problems. Use the Basic skill level for mostly single-digit problems, or advanced skill levels for problems that require carrying or borrowing.

@FBSpeed:@FD This determines how much time is available for solving a problem. 'Fastest' stands for the least amount of time. The 'No Time' option turns off the timer.

@FBSound:@FD Turns the sound on or off.

To start Mathtest, move the menu bar to the top option and hit the <ENTER> key.
**H7
@ZSUBMENU
Move the menu bar up and down with the arrow keys. When you select your option, hit the <ENTER> key. If you do not wish to change the current selection, press the <B> key to back out.
**H8
@ZGET READY...
Get ready for the first math problem, coming up!
**H9
@ZANSWERING THE MATH PROBLEM
Type in the answer to the problem, and hit the <ENTER> key. Press the backspace key to fix mistkes, the minus or plus keys to make your answer negative or positive, and the period key to insert a decimal point.

If the math problem is VERTICAL and you are solving an addition or subtraction problem (and multi-digit multiplication problems), be aware that the cursor can move from right to left. Solve the "ones" or "units" column first. Then, answer the "tens" digit.

If the math problem is vertical multiplication or long division, you may see more spaces for typing in numbers. The green boxes are "scratchwork spaces". Use the arrow keys, the <TAB> key, the slash </> key, or the <SPACE BAR> to move to or from these spaces. Most of these boxes are used for carrying or borrowing.

Enter your final answer in the red box and press the <ENTER> key.
**H10
@ZBLASTING THE TEST
The object of this game is to blast the "TEST" moving across the top of the screen. Press the <SPACE BAR> to launch the rocket.

If you let the "TEST" pass the rocket, you won't get a chance to try to blast it again until you successfully answer another math problem.

@ZSCORING
There are three numbers to remember.  Two of them are shown on the bottom of the screen.

The score represents the number of games that you have won. The misses count shows how many of the games that you have lost.

The third number is the goal, which is shown on the scoreboard screen. It will appear if you successfully win this game.
**H11
@ZAFTER THE GAME
You can see what your score, misses count, and goal are on this screen.

The score represents the number of games that you have won. The misses count shows how many of the games that you have lost.

Try to make your score reach the goal, if your goal is less than 60. The game will change.
**H12
@ZCONGRATULATIONS!

You have reached your goal. Press the ENTER key to continue the game.
**H13
@ZQUIT SCREEN
Move the menu bar with the arrow keys, and hit the <ENTER> key when your option is selected. If you press <ESC> when you see the options, you will exit Mathtest.

Here is what each choice does.  Be aware that some of these choices may not be currently appearing.

@FBRestart Mathtest:@FD Select this option to go back to the Mathtest title screen.

@FBGo to the Main Menu:@FD This quits the current game and brings you back to the Main Menu, where you can choose new types of math problems.

@FBRestart Game:@FD This quits the curent game and starts a new one. Your score is set back to zero.

@FBContinue Game:@FD If you pressed the <ESC> key to pause the game, or pressed the <ESC> key accidentally, then select this option to go back to your game.

@FB<ESC> - Quit Mathtest:@FD This exits the Mathtest program completely.
**H14
@ZTHE HILLSIDE
Try to hit the ball with the light-beam. Aim by pressing the up and down arrow keys, and send the beam by pressing the <SPACE BAR>.

The big number on the lower right hand corner of the screen tells you how many tries you have.  Your number of tries depends upon how much time was left from when you answered the math problem.

@ZTIME
You only have a brief amount of time to hit the ball.

@ZSCORING
There are three numbers to remember.  Two of them are shown on the bottom of the screen.

The score represents the number of games that you have won. The misses count shows how many of the games that you have lost.

The third number is the goal, which is shown on the scoreboard screen. It will appear if you successfully win this game.
**H15
THE INFORMATION SCREEN
48
Welcome to Mathtest. This math game
57
lets you practice addition, subtraction,
66
multiplication, or division problems.
77
You can solve very basic problems or
86
complex problems. The time for solving
95
the problems can be adjusted, and the
104
sound can be turned off or on. Also,
113
problems can be shown in horizontal or
122
vertical formats. Negative numbers and
131
decimals may be used.
143
This program is ideal for building mental
152
solving skills, and learning how to
161
solve difficult problems quickly.
48
If you ever get lost, or you want more
57
information on a certain screen, press
66
the F1 key. A help window will appear.
75
If you want to quit the program, press
84
the <ESC> key.
96
When you play Mathtest, a math problem
105
will appear on your screen. You must
114
answer the problem before the time runs
123
out. If you answer the problem correctly,
132
you will then see one of three games.
141
First, you will try to hit the 'TEST' with
150
a rocket. After reaching your goal, you
159
will then see the other two games.
48
If you get ten points, you will have
57
reached your goal. If you get 60 points,
66
you will win Mathtest.
78
Mathtest 3.0 was made by Kenneth Perrine.
87
Enjoy using this program!
**H16
Try to throw a ball at the box. Use the left and right arrow keys to aim, and press the <SPACE BAR> to throw a ball. Do not let the box hit the ground or leave the screen!

@ZSCORING
There are three numbers to remember.  Two of them are shown on the bottom of the screen.

The score represents the number of games that you have won. The misses count shows how many of the games that you have lost.

The third number is the goal, which is shown on the scoreboard screen. It will appear if you successfully win this game.
**H17
@ZWHAT IS THIS 'QUICK QUESTION'?
Some types of math problems in Mathtest will not let you do carrying, borrowing, or anything else that uses green "scratchwork" boxes (extra places to type numbers). If you plan to use scratch-paper, a calculator, or your mind to do carrying or borrowing, then continue by pressing any key after you leave this help screen. Otherwise, press the <ESC> key to go back to the options screen and turn off the options which cause this 'Quick Question' to appear.  If this question doesn't appear again, then you should be able to use the scratchwork boxes.

For addition and subtraction problems, you won't be able to use the green boxes for carrying and borrowing when 'Find Parts of Problems' or negative numbers are used.  For multiplication and division problems, you won't be able to use the scratchwork boxes when 'Find Parts of Problems', negative numbers, or decimal numbers are used. For all types of math problems, scratchwork boxes will never appear when the 'Solve Horizontal Problems' option is turned on. All of this only happens when the Skill Level is greater than Basic.
**H18
@Z'DRILL' OPTIONS
Mathtest has a special mode called the 'drill mode'.  When Mathtest operates normally, only one math problem needs to be answered correctly before the game appears.  However, the 'drill' mode allows Mathtest to display more than one math problem before a game appears.  In 'drill' mode, the score is not based upon how many games are won; instead, it is based upon how many math problems are solved.  After answering sixty math problems correctly, the player wins Mathtest.  Select 'Drill 1' to make Mathtest act normally, except for this scoring method.  Select 'Drill 60' to turn off the games.
**H19
@ZGAME SWITCHER
Instead of waiting for your score to reach the value of your goal to change the game, you can change the game with these options.
**H14