Intro to Maple

Dr. Holly Hirst
Appalachian State University
The Shodor Education Foundation
June 1998

Maple is a Computer Algebra System that is designed to perform algebra manipulations like factoring, simplifying and evaluating expressions, solving equations, integrating and differentiating equations. When possible, Maple will perform the calculation symbolically, meaning that the computer will do the same hand calculations that you would.

Here are a few simple rules for running Maple in the Walker Complex Lab:

• To run Maple click twice on its icon.
• Type commands at the > prompt.
• Every command ends in a ;. If you forget it, Maple will sit and wait for more.
• To execute a command, press Enter.
• If a command is typed incorrectly, it can be edited and re-executed.
• If you what to perform an additional operation on the output of a previous command, refer to the last executed command's output as %. Beware!!! Maple can be used in a nonlinear way, so the output right above the new command line may not be the most recently executed command's output!

So what are the commands???

Maple has a rich set of commands for which we need to learn the appropriate syntax. Here are a few simple command lists:

• General Information
• One Variable Functions
• Multi-Variable Functions
• Differential Equations
• Linear Algebra

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Falling Rabbits in Maple

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Last update on: June 1, 1998
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