Topic: Maximum Calculus with Maxima

[sam]

We looked at Maxima in the February 2011 issue to do algebra and rearrange some equations. But those aren't the only tricks up Maxima's sleeve. This month, I describe how Maxima can help with differential equations, but I'm going to leave out some of the intermediate results to save some space.

A lot of science involves figuring out how systems change over time and what causes those changes. When you start looking at changes, and especially rates of change, that is essentially calculus. Calculus and rates of change also are linked to slopes of lines on graphs. When you plot data and find an equation that describes it, you can find the slope of the line by taking the derivative of the equation. Let's look at a falling object and see what theory has to say about it.

http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/maximum-calculus-maxima

[GillE]

Now that is interesting.  I always found calculus fascinating at school, even if it did confound me .

[sam]

There are some fantastic tools out there. I have to say I'm a numerical guy. I'd I find an integral hard to do analytically I just do it brute force with a computer. Oh you should see the fantastic thongs wolfram alpha can do too. Of course that uses mathematica under the hood