A Tour of Maple V

Abstract

In this chapter you will learn by example how to get on with the Maple computer algebra system (CA system or CAS for short). In getting to know Maple, we shall discover how to deal with basic concepts and techniques such as giving instructions to the computer, correcting errors in input lines, reading input and writing output files, and we shall get acquainted with first principles of Maple’s programming language. For the time being we shall merely focus on getting familiar with the computer and the Maple CA system, and not on mathematics as yet. Later, in the chapters to follow, this practical knowledge will be supplemented in order to let Maple play an active role in helping you to improve your understanding of difficult mathematical concepts, and to generally enhance your overall knowledge of mathematics. These chapters introduce the use of the Maple system in branches of mathematics such as Mathematical Analysis, Linear Algebra, Probability Theory, and Discrete Mathematics. Also, in passing, we shall briefly pay attention to the graphical possibilities a CA system has to offer.