Workshop leader: Bernhard Stöger (University of Linz, Austria)
What is a Computer Algebra System?
A computer algebra system is a program that carries out mathematical calculations for you. But, unlike a calculator program such as Windows Calc or Excel, computer algebra systems are able to calculate not only with numbers, but also with variables. This capability lets you simplify complex mathematical expressions, but also solve equations in which variable symbols occur.
What is MuPAD?
MuPAD is a powerful computer algebra system developed at the University of Paderborn, Germany. It is quite well accessible and runs both on the Windows and on the Linux platform.
What will I learn at this workshop?
- To organize my calculations in so-called notebooks, and to navigate within them
- To use the simple and intuitive syntax of MuPAD for reading and writing my mathematical expressions – both numbers and variables
- To do simple algebraic tasks like simplification of an expression or solution of linear and quadratic equations
To carry out basic vector calculations such as the formation of scalar and vector products - To do basic operations of differential and integral calculus
To work with matrices, determinants, and systems of linear equations - Finally, to browse through the extensive MuPAD documentation in order to find the mathematical functions that are most useful for myself
Okay, I forgot one particularly funny thing: You will be able to decompose large integers into their prime factors, and you’ll discover some very large prime numbers.
Why shouldn’t I miss that workshop?
Because it will, in any event, raise your power of solving mathematical problems, be it in algebra, calculus, or in numerical Mathematics.
For which level of study and which kind of disability is the workshop suited?
Each level – after a general introduction that is relevant for everyone, I shall provide tasks for every specific level, from middle secondary education until University. Bacause of the easy-to-use interface of MuPAD, the program, and thus the workshop, is manageable both for sighted, particlly sighted, and blind students.
