Equations..

I have a problem for which I hope there is a simple fix...

I have created a program that allows teachers/students to graph and print many different types of equations and functions that one would find in a typical HS math course...I have created interfaces for many different types of graphs such as polynomial functions, exponential functions, polar equations...etc.
What I want to do now is allow users to input the right hand side of an equation and have the program graph it for them...just like a typical graphing calculator. My question is how to read a string of numbers, operations, variables and grouping symbols from a textbox...Will I have to parse out every character and treat it separately or is there a simpler solution.
Ex: I want them to type in something like: 2x^4+3x(2x-5)/12

Thanks!!! Mike

This is one of those instances where parsing out everything one by one may be easier since there's little in the way of patterns you'd be able to pick out.

Thanks...I had a feeling that was what I would need to do....I always wondered how TI did that on the graphing calculators...I was hoping for an easier way!!!

Here's an algorithm to help you understand how this can be accomplished:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunting_yard_algorithm

Thanks!!! This is helpful...