In this
course you will find it helpful to have access to a computer algebra and
plotting system (CAS). The system that
we will use is Maple 8, which acts as an interactive problem solver and
as a programming language. It was designed and developed by Waterloo Maple
Inc. This program is installed on each
of the computers in the AMCL (SC 175) and OMH 108. After logging in on one of the AMCL computers you will be able to
access Maple by double clicking on the Maple icon
Getting
started on the AMCL Machines:
1.
In the Login
Screen that appears, enter your account name and password and press Enter. (If the Login Screen doesn't appear, click
on the Start icon at the bottom left corner of the screen. Then logout the previous user.)
2.
Double click on the Maple 8 icon. A new Maple worksheet should appear. (.If
the icon is not on the desktop, look under the start menu, thn St. Olaf apps
(at the top), then Math, then Maple 8.)
(Note: You can use Maple 9, but be sure to select the classic version.)
3.
Use the File
menu to open your worksheet.
Introduction
to Maple Commands
·
Recording
text and switching from text to execution mode:
o
Text
Mode: To insert explanations and answers to
questions as text within your worksheet, select Text in the Insert menu or select
the "T" icon on the toolbar.
o
Execution
Mode: Maple commands to be executed must be
entered in Execution Mode. To enter
this mode, select Execution Group from the Insert menu or select the
"[>" icon on the toolbar.
All commands entered in this mode will appear in red. To have Maple
execute a command, you must enter the command name followed by a semicolon or a
colon and then press ENTER. (A semicolon results in printed output; a colon
results in suppressed, i.e., hidden, output.). If you forget the semicolon (colon), Maple will not carry out
the command. In this case don't retype the command, simply enter the missing
semicolon (colon) and again press Enter.
·
Getting
Help
o
Help
Introduction: Maple has an extensive online help
system. To begin exploring this system,
select Introduction in the Help menu. Once you have checked through this
overview, change your selection to Mathematics in the top lefthand box
(scroll down if necessary) and in the adjacent box that appears, select a
topic.
o
Using
Topic Search. To find a
list of available Maple commands, select Topic Search in the Help
menu. Then enter the topic/command on which you want help. By scrolling to the bottom of the help
window that appears, you can find specific examples.
o
Command
Line Help: To get help
for a specific command without opening the Help window, type the following
after a Maple execution prompt:
?Commandname
o
Trouble
Shooting
Occasionally, a Maple worksheet will (1) give you error commands when you shouldn't get them or (2)
totally "hang up.''
Possible remedies: Re-execute the worksheet by selecting Execute under the Edit
menu. If all else fails, shut down the
computer and reboot it.
JNC (with adaptations by MLW for Math 226)
- Aug, 2003