The interactive graphical calculator tools created by this JAVA nomogram tool consist of three parallel scales. The leftmost and rightmost scales represent the two INPUT variables, the values of which are usually known. The middle scale represents the designated TARGET variable, which is a function of the INPUT variables (though it should be pointed out that in fact any variable can be computed using the other two). The tool you find here allows the user to choose among five different canonic types for the mathematical expression which the nomogram is to represent. These are: addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, and multiplication (with exponents). For each of the expressions, constant multipliers may be specified for the input variables. Among other things, these multipliers are used to account for scale factors necessitated by choice of units. In addition, minimum and maximum values for the input variables, plus names and units for all variables may be specified by the user. The user can also adjust the spacing of the tick marks on each of the scales.
To use this program, click on the link directly below. Follow the instructions to enter all required parameters for the expression in the textboxes within the pop-up windows as they appear. Once all parameters have been entered, the expression you have specified will appear at the top of the screen in the applet window and the nomogram will appear below it. The user can then use the mouse to draw a line across the nomogram by holding the button down and dragging. The program determines the values for the variables at the intersections of the scales with the line that has been drawn. Values for all variables in the output window are rounded off to three significant digits.
For an example of an interactive nomogram of the general type the online tool can create, please
CLICK HERE. An interactive nomogram for on-line computation of the Likelihood Ratio, a statistical measure used
in the biomedical field, is now available at the Minervation.com site.
This nomogram replaces the straight lines of common nomogram construction with arrows pointing to the values on each of the scales, thereby
improving readability. Another site with
some overly chatty but still useful information about nomograms is found at the MathForm site.