Simple Computer Algebra System

[jackson6612]

I don't know much about how to work with computer softwares. Would you please suggest em some simple CAS which also supports text feature. I want to use it to simply write down math - I can solve problems (such as calculus ones) myself. Thanks for your help.

 

[micromass]

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_computer_algebra_systems

If you want free software, then I think maxima would be the best choice. Otherwise, go for mathematica, it's the best in every way...

 

[jackson6612]

Which one is simple to use and easy to learn?

 

[micromass]

I don't have that much experience in computer algebra systems. But again maxima and mathematica are not that hard to learn. Maple is also not that hard.
Don't go for MATLAB and GAP, they are very powerful programs, but they don't suit your purpose...

 

[DoctorBinary]

PARI/GP (http://pari.math.u-bordeaux.fr/" .

 

[CRGreathouse]

I'll second the suggestion of Pari/GP. It's easier to use, and more powerful, for what I have done. Mathematica is also good, if you can afford it -- better than Pari for calculus, worse for number theory.

 

[statdad]

If you look at Maxima look at the WxMaxima front - end: it's a nicer interface than the old version.

 

[jackson6612]

Thank you, everyone, for suggestions.

Here on PF forums when using Latex one has to enter a string of symbols to render mathematical symbols. Are those CAS programmes you recommended have a kind of ready-made symbols. I mean I can simply use my keyboard to enter square brackets - I don't need to enter any string for them. Please let me know. Latex consumes a lot of time and needs much practice, I suppose. Thanks.

 

[Bill Simpson]

Scientific Notebook is roughly a word processor for math and it includes a CAS in the background you can use to do computation if you ever need to. I found an old version of that was very easy to produce pretty good looking typeset equations without needing to learn how to write raw Latex. It was reasonably priced and they have a free trial version that you can use for 30 days to help you decide whether it is what you want or not. They have higher powered Scientific Word and Scientific Workplace, but for what I was doing I didn't see the need for them.

http://www.mackichan.com/index.html?products/snb.html~mainFrame

 

[jackson6612]

Bill, thanks a lot. I will look it up soon. Best wishes.

 

[jackson6612]

By the way, I wanted a word processor for math where I could write math stuff and general text without learning something like Latex. CAS is a different thing, I believe. It's a computer calculator which uses exact mathematical symbols to do the calculations. Right?

 

[Edgardo]

A nice 10 minute tutorial on Maxima can be found http://math-blog.com/2007/06/04/a-10-minute-tutorial-for-solving-math-problems-with-maxima/" .

LaTeX is not hard to learn, try this http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Wiki/index.php/LaTeX:About" . It describes every single step from "downloading the necessary files" to "writing your first math document".

Maybe you'll need a day to set it up on your computer and another day to get used to the syntax (you'll learn it very quickly, believe me).

 

[jackson6612]

Edgardo: Thanks a lot. I will follow the steps you described soon. BTW, I downloaded Scientific Word, recommended by Bill, and it helps me to insert the math symbols directly from the toolbars, and then I can copy the codes for those symbols by one-click operation.

 

[jackson6612]

Hi again

Do you know of any CAS-type calculator or some simple symbolic calculator capable of calculus related calculations which could be used on Windows Mobile phone? I have WM5 phone. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jackson6612]

I have a Genius tablet. Is there a software which provides a space where I can write math stuff on the tablet and it automatically converts the written (or, more correctly drawn on the tablet) into digital form? I don't need a software to recognize handwritten material such as Abby FineReader, I need one to recognize drawn math stuff. While searching online I found this webpage: http://www.maplesoft.com/products/ma...dwriting.aspx#

But it only provides a small window to draw only math symbols. Thr MathBrush is the kind of software I'm after but I don't get any download for it.

http://www.scg.uwaterloo.ca/mathbrush/demos
http://www.scg.uwaterloo.ca/mathbrush/files/demos/Jun2009/usingV.wmv

Please let me know if you know of any such software application. Thanks.

 

[matematikawan]

I found http://integrals.wolfram.com/index.jsp?expr=Exp[2*x]*Sin[x]&random=false" to be most convenient to use for not so complex problem.