Maple: An Introduction and Reference [Paperback]

Michael Kofler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0201178990 | ISBN-13: 978-0201178999

Maple: An Introduction and Reference offers a practical and accessible introduction to the latest version of this very popular computer algebra system. The book's clear structure, which features syntax summaries at the end of each chapter, makes it ideal as both a text- and reference book. Following a straightforward introduction to Maple, all the important applications of the computer algebra system are covered, including simplification of mathematical expressions, equation solving, differentiation and integration, Fourier and Laplace transformations, and vector analysis. Link to Michael Koflers Web Site http://www.addison-wesley.de/Service/Kofler/ehome.html

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Maple: An Introduction and Reference offers a practical and accessible introduction to the latest version of this very popular computer algebra system. The bookIs clear structure, which features syntax summaries at the end of each chapter, makes it ideal as both a text- and reference book.

Following a straightforward introduction to Maple, all the important applications of the computer algebra system are covered, including simplification of mathematical expressions, equation solving, differentiation and integration, Fourier and Laplace transformations, and vector analysis.

Features

• contains hundreds of examples
• extensive coverage of graphics, with more than 200 illustrations
• includes an introduction to programming
• common error and survival sections help avoid the usual pitfalls
• CD-ROM included, containing all the examples in the book, the Windows program MaplePS, which converts Maple graphics files into a format suitable for importing into any word processing program, and demo versions of Maple serving Macintosh, Windows and Unix platforms

0201178990B04062001

About the Author

Michael Kofler is an accomplished and award-winning author of many succesful technical books on subjects including Visual Basic, Linux, Maple, and MySQL, published both in German and in English.

0201178990AB10012001

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Addison Wesley (September 2, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201178990
• ISBN-13: 978-0201178999
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,533,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars written with intelligence, designed with style, July 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Maple: An Introduction and Reference (Paperback)

Michael Koffler's "Maple : An Introduction and Reference" is a stylish and well-written book.

Pros:

(1) Aimed at a moderately sophisticated user. This books assumes you understand the math and concentrates on explaining Maple.

(2) Well-organized. It has a four-chapter introduction, basically a survey of Maple's capabilities, followed by fifteen in-depth chapters on major headings, like ODEs, matrix-vector math, differentiation, integration, function and variable syntax, etc. Then there are twelve chapters on advanced topics such as transform methods, programming, and optimization. Each chapter is written in an introductory style and closes with a syntax summary table for reference.

(3) Includes a comparison to Mathematica.

(stylistic points)

(4) The author is clearly enthusiastic about Maple while still conscious of its limitations. His writing has a nice balance of seriousness with an occasional personal flair.

(5) The chapter numbers are dr! awn with Maple graphics, each with an original design, with the style sometimes reflecting the content matter of the chapter.

(6) Nicely typeset (with LaTeX). The text is dense but very readable, and the input, output, and commentary are clearly distinguished by the fonts and the page layout. A really good job.

Cons:

(1) Based on Maple V Release 4. The current version is Release 5.

(2) A very few odd English constructions, maybe ten or twenty, but nothing that's not perfectly clear. I'd guess English ain't his first language.

(3) The coverage of platform-specific information is weighted towards MS-Windows. Sometimes he says "It is not know whether this bug exists on other platforms." If I were publishing a book I'd find out!

An excellent book, overall.

John Gibson, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Cornell University