Experiments in Undergraduate Mathematics – a Mathematica-Based Approach

Phillip Kent, Phil Ramsden, John Wood9781860940279, 1860940277

All students need to master a variety of mathematical tools and concepts at the start of their university career. This distinctive book helps students learn these by doing. The approach is interactive, using experiments, performed in the symbolic algebra package Mathematica, to impart the fundamentals of many of the topics students encounter. A clear exposition of the topic accompanies every experiment.The modular style of the book allows students to study each topic independently. The sheer power of computer algebra software lets students develop and test their own conjectures, obtaining quick and instructive results. The software modules accompanying this course includes many custom functions designed to facilitate learning and testing process.Students who have some familiarity with the material will find their understanding refreshed and deepened through this approach. The exposure to modern computer algebra software will also benefit students in their subsequent studies, research, and professional careers.This classroom-tested book covers Calculus; Complex Numbers; Vectors and Matrices; Functions and Graphs; Trigonometry; and Series. It should therefore also be of use to many secondary school and high school students.Requires: Mathematica 2.2 or later (to be purchased separately); notebook interface. Software modules for this book are available with the hardback edition and via the Internet, or directly from the authors.