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Maxima is an open-source application that is in the category of computer algebra systems - CAS. However, it is important to recognize that the word "algebra" in this context should not be interpreted in a narrow sense of a mathematical topic of study and application. In the context of Maxima "algebra" should be interpreted in a broader sense of symbolic mathematics including what is conventionally meant by the use of algebra as a mathematical area of study and application.

Maxima is not merely another programming language. It is a primarily an interactive special-purpose computer application for composing and operating on mathematical expressions of various kinds. However, within that special category there is a sense in which it is general-purpose in that there is no emphasis on some particular goal or task such as numerical computations. While Maxima has significant numerical computational features, if the primary area of study or application involves merely "number crunching" then Maxima may or may not be the best choice. In these cases, other open-source software such as Julia, R, Octave, or Python as examples, may be better suited in terms of what is necessary to accomplish the task of interest.

If you are a teacher, student or someone involved in some specific field of mathematical investigation or application, then it is likely that you will find that Maxima is a tool of great interest and applicability.

This book is not intended to be of a tutorial nature on one hand or a comprehensive Maxima user manual on the other hand. It is also not intended to be a reference manual. It is intended to help new and current users get familiar with using Maxima.

This book shows how to get familiar with using Maxima. Maxima can be used for:

Symbolic mathematics and numerical computations
Plotting 2D and 3D
Much more

References

Chaotic dynamics with Maxima A. Morante and J. A. Vallejo

Maxima

Table of Contents

See also

References