1.1 What is Computer Algebra?

Symbolic computation is the discipline which computes with symbols. Computer algebra is the collections of algorithms to implement symbolic computation.

1.2 Computer Algebra Systems

We use Maple, there are many other alternatives.

>	f := exp(-x^2)*sin(Pi*x^3): # suppress the output with a :

If we assign a plot to a variable, we do want to suppress the output, as we are interested only in the final display of the plot.

>	save_plot := plot(f,x=-2..2):

>	envelope_top := plot(exp(-x^2),x=-2..2,color=blue):

>	envelope_bottom := plot(-exp(-x^2),x=-2..2,color=blue):

>	plots[display](envelope_top,envelope_bottom,save_plot);

To save disk space, we better delete the output of the display command.

1.3 Using Maple in Worksheet and Command Line Mode

1.4 Design of Maple and Worksheets

Many commands are written in the language of Maple.

>	interface(verboseproc=3):

>	print(gcd);

Some routines are built-in:

>	print(diff);

The code for the diff command is not accessible for viewing.