Contents of Computer Algebra Systems: A Practical Guide

Edited by Michael J. Wester
(John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, United Kingdom, ISBN 0-471-98353-5, xvi+436 pages, 1999)
Preface
List of Contributors
1. Symbolic Math Powerhouses Revisited
Barry Simon
2. Symbolic Magic
Barry Simon
3. A Critique of the Mathematical Abilities of CA Systems
Michael Wester
4. Simplifying Square Roots of Square Roots by Denesting
David J. Jeffrey and Albert D. Rich
5. Can Your Computer Do Complex Analysis?
Helmer Aslaksen
6. Efficient Computation of Chebyshev Polynomials in Computer Algebra
Wolfram Koepf
7. A Review of Symbolic Solvers
Laurent Bernardin
8. About the Polynomial System Solve Facility of Axiom, Macsyma, Maple, Mathematica, MuPAD, and Reduce
Hans-Gert Gräbe
9. Computing Limits in Computer Algebra Systems
Dominik Gruntz
10. Let's Do Some Analysis
Stanly Steinberg
11. Solving Ordinary Differential Equations
Frank Postel and Paul Zimmermann
12. Integrability Tests for Nonlinear Evolution Equations
Willy Hereman and Ünal Göktas
13. Code Generation Using Computer Algebra Systems
John K. Prentice and Michael Wester
14. Symbolic Mathematics System Evaluators
Richard J. Fateman
15. Computer Algebra in Mathematics Education
Bill Pletsch
16. On Lovelace, Babbage and the Origins of Computer Algebra
Peter J. Larcombe
17. Computer Algebra Systems
Paulo Ney de Souza
A. Major General Purpose CASs
B. Resources
C. Computer Algebra Synonyms
References
Biographies of Contributors
Epilogue
Index

A short description of the book:

Computer Algebra Systems: A Practical Guide examines the currently available computer algebra (symbolic mathematical) systems with special emphasis on the general purpose packages. The strengths and weaknesses of these programs are compared and contrasted, tutorial information for using these systems in various ways is given, and background on their history and some of the ideas behind them as well as an overview of what systems actually exist is provided. This allows the experienced user to make an informed decision on which system(s) he or she might like to use. It also allows a user new to computer algebra to form an idea of where to begin. This book will be useful to scientists, engineers, educators, students and anyone else interested in the exact solution of mathematical problems by computer.

17 chapters and 3 appendices have been written by 19 different authors located worldwide, overviewing both the general and the special purpose systems, and discussing issues such as denesting nested roots, complex number calculations, efficiently computing special polynomials, solving single equations and systems of polynomial equations, computing limits, multiple integration, solving ordinary differential and nonlinear evolution equations, code generation, evaluation and computer algebra in education. Historical origins, computer algebra resources and equivalents for many common operations in 7 major packages are also covered.

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