Learning Maxima: Beginner Video Tutorials

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for video tutorials on Maxima, a symbolic computation program, as a user transitions from Mathematica. Participants also mention other computational tools like Octave and Julia, exploring their functionalities and relevance to symbolic computation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks recommendations for beginner video tutorials on Maxima after switching from Mathematica.
  • Another participant provides a link to an old tutorial and mentions a video tutorial on YouTube.
  • A third participant shares multiple resources related to Maxima, including links to various tutorials and documentation, emphasizing the benefits of open-source software.
  • Some participants introduce Julia as an alternative computational tool, noting its capabilities for matrix computations.
  • There is a question raised about Julia's status as a symbolic computation program, with a subsequent reply suggesting that Julia can interface with other tools, implying potential for symbolic computation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the usefulness of Maxima and share resources, but there is some disagreement regarding the classification of Julia as a symbolic computation program and its comparison to Maxima.

Contextual Notes

Some resources mentioned may have varying levels of relevance or comprehensiveness, and there is no consensus on the best approach to learning Maxima or the role of Julia in symbolic computation.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals transitioning to Maxima from other computational tools, those interested in open-source software for mathematical computations, and users exploring alternatives like Julia and Octave.

Leo Liu
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I am switching from Mathematica to Maxima. Although both of them are symbolic computation programs, I think it is better to start studying Maxima's language from the basic stuff. Could someone recommend some good video tutorials to me? Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
and from Prof Glasner's website:

  • Maxima and Octave
    • Maxima and Octave are two open source mathematical tools http://maxima.sourceforge.net/compalg.shtml The are a lot of good reasons for using open source software beyond its purchase price which are clearly documented here.
    • The current implementation of MIT's Macsyma system for computer based algebra is called Maxima and is available for MS Windows under the GNU Public License here.
    • The Maxima package for Windows also includes http://wxmaxima.sourceforge.net/ which can help people start using Maxima without learning Maxima's languange.
    • Here is http://www.math.harvard.edu/computing/maxima brief introduction to Maxima.
    • Here is an http://www.math.psu.edu/glasner/m251/intromax.html, as well as http://www.math.psu.edu/glasner/Max_doc/maxima-primer.html which is distributed with maxima.
    • Here is some http://www.math.psu.edu/glasner/Max_doc/index.html on Maxima.
    • Octave, a Matlab alternative for numerical work, is available under the GPL.
    • Links to additional CAS's using Maxima as a component in a larger scheme http://maxima.sourceforge.net/relatedprojects.shtml

http://www.personal.psu.edu/mxg/m251_fa09/thepage.html
 
ANother computational tool to consider is Julia:

Julialang.org

Julia does matrix style computations along the lines of Matlab but without the frills or cost.
 
jedishrfu said:
ANother computational tool to consider is Julia:

Julialang.org

Julia does matrix style computations along the lines of Matlab but without the frills or cost.
Thanks for your reply. But isn't julia not a symbolic computation program?
 
Julia can interface so anything is possible

 
  • Wow
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