Maxima is a computer program for doing mathematics calculations, symbolic manipulations, numerical computations and graphics. Procedures can be programmed and then run by Maxima to do complex tasks. Much of the syntax for other languages such as Maple was copied from Maxima. Full documentation is available.
To do basic operations, a line is typed, followed by a
semicolon, and then entered. For example,
Here are some examples from basic calculus. To have Maxima
evaluate the derivative of the function below, click on this line.
Maxima can calculate indefinite integrals.
Also, limits can be evaluated as x goes to infinity:
Maxima can perform calculations to arbitrary precision. The
following example computes Pi to one hundred decimal places.
Maxima can solve equations. Click this line to solve the system.
For example, matrices can be
entered and manipulated. Click these two lines.
The matrices can then be added, for example:
Let v represent a set of points in 3 space
Then we could have some pentagons whose vertices are among the
above, name the first vertex uses points [1,2,3,4,5], the second
has vertices the 1,2,..6 'th points in the above list..
The center of mass of one face is
Procedures
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For more complex tasks, procedures can be written and run by Maxima.
For example, the famous Fibonacci numbers are defined recursively.
Here is a Maxima procedure for calculating the Fibonacci sequence.
Click on the region to enter it.
Maxima can solve ODEs analytically and numerically. Click the
following line for an example of an analytic solution.
Maxima has 2D and 3D graphics capability. It can do graphic tasks
from elementary like the following.
The standard form is
now
Local variables:
The