Advice for Buying a Math Program for a Junior Math Major

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for math software suitable for a junior mathematics major with limited computer background. Participants explore various programs, their learning curves, and the balance between using technology and traditional methods in mathematics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests Maple as a powerful and easy-to-learn program, while also mentioning Maxima as a free alternative.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of doing math on paper but acknowledges that computers can be helpful tools if used correctly.
  • A different viewpoint highlights the high cost of major software packages, recommending free alternatives like Octave, R, and Maxima, and notes the steep learning curve for those without programming experience.
  • One participant advises consulting with the department's system administrator regarding campus licenses for software, suggesting that learning Maple may be more challenging but worthwhile.
  • There is a recommendation to learn a programming language, such as Fortran, to aid in numerical cases.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that while traditional methods of doing mathematics are valuable, computer software can be beneficial if used appropriately. However, there is no consensus on which software is definitively the best choice, and opinions vary regarding the ease of learning different programs.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express concerns about the potential steep learning curve associated with using advanced math software, particularly for those without prior programming experience. The discussion also reflects varying opinions on the balance between traditional and technological approaches to learning mathematics.

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So here's the situation:
I am going to be a junior (this fall), and am majoring in mathematics. That being said, I have just about zero computer background (although I am taking computer science 1 in the fall, as I think it would be a good thing to learn). So anyway, I decided I want to buy a laptop and put some "heavy duty" math programs on it. I was wondering if there was a math program(s) that any fellow math people would recommend- like mathematica, maple, matlab, etc... Also how hard are they to learn how to use? Like I said, right now I know just about zero programming stuff, and have had no experience with these programs (I've done everything on paper so far). Any advice?
 
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Maple is very powerful and easy to learn. If you're looking for a free alternative, I recommend maxima.
...and have had no experience with these programs (I've done everything on paper so far). Any advice?
Yea, try to keep it this way. Its better!
 
I'm agree

It's absolutely better to do most things on paper, however, a computer can be a very helpful tool. I think students have to be careful to not use it to do their work- but I also believe if used correctly, it can aid learning... but what do I know? I've had very little experience with them. Anyway, thanks for the reply!
 
Even with an educational discount, most of the biggies are still pretty expensive, with Mathcad perhaps being an exception (student edition is pretty limited though). Without a lot of computer or programming experience, you'll have a pretty steep learning curve to climb. I'd recommend adding a few introductory programming courses to your schedule.

If you're on a budget (and what university student isn't?), I recommend the following free alternatives:

* Octave - Matlab like clone (http://www.gnu.org/software/octave/)
* R - S like clone for doing stats (http://www.r-project.org/)
* Maxima - for doing symbolic stuff (http://maxima.sourceforge.net/)

All of them have pretty self-contained binaries available for Windows.
 
I recommend Maple for a mathematician but before buying a software consult to your department's system administrator. Some universities have a campus license for some programs. Learning Maple may be harder than some other but it worths. I also recommend you to learn a programming language like Fortran for numerical cases. Octave and Maxima are very good programs and having a knowledge about them would be nice for you.
 
Thanks

Thanks for the replies, they have been helpful.
 

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