Mathematica For The Beginner

Atcm98''.
nb
MATHEMATICA FOR THE BEGINNER

Tilak de Alwis
Department of Mathematics
Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond, LA 70402, USA
FMAT1117@SELU.EDU
Abstract
In this tutorial we will explain some elementary aspects of the computer algebra system Mathematica
3.0. The tutorial is mainly divided into five sections : Arithmetic and Numerical Calculations, Algebra,
Calculus, Graphing in Two and Three Dimensions, and Animations. In the first section Arithmetic and
Numerical Calculations, we will cover the topics such as exponentiation, square roots, logarithms,
absolute values, factoring integers, and approximating numbers to arbitrary precision. This section at
the same time provides the user a feel for the syntax of the Mathematica language. In the second
section covering Algebra, we will show how to factor, expand and simplify algebraic expressions. One
highlight in this section is how to use Mathematica to mimic the functional notation. In the same
section, we will show how to solve single equations and systems of equations. In the third section on
Calculus, we discuss differentiation, indefinite and definite integration, and limits of functions. The
fourth section covers one of the most important aspects of the tutorial, Two and Three Dimensional
Graphing. Starting with graphing a simple function, we will discuss in detail very many aspects of
graphing. Among them include various plot options in Mathematica, such as, "PlotStyle",
"AspectRatio", "Axes", "AxesLabel", "Frame", "PlotLabel", etc. We will also explain parametric and
implicit plotting as well. The final section is devoted to showing how to use Mathematica as an
animation tool.
Atcm98''.nb
1.
Arithmetic and Numerical Calculations
1. Fraction calculations
+3 s 2 4 s 5/ s + 2 s 3 +5 s 6/ ^ 2/
414/5
2. Approximations
N#Sqrt#2', 100'
1.414213562373095048801688724209698078569671875376948073176679737990732478\
462107038850387534327641573
3. Approximating other radicals and exponents

N#3 +5/ ^ +1 s 3/ 23 ^ 4, 13'
279846.1299278
4. Calculations involving pi and e

N#Pi, 200'
3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974944592307816406\
286208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359\
4081284811174502841027019385211055596446229489549303820
N#Exp#1', 100'
2.718281828459045235360287471352662497757247093699959574966967627724076630\
353547594571382178525166427
5. Absolute values
Abs#E Pi'
-E + Pi
N#%'
0.423311
6. Logarithms
Atcm98''.nb
N#Log#100', 12'
4.60517018599
N#Log#10, E', 12'

0.434294481903
Log#2, 8'
3
7. Trigonometric functions
N#Sin#30''
-0.988032
Sin#30 Degree'
1
2
Cos#Pi s 4'
1
-----------Sqrt[2]
8. Complex numbers
+2 3 I/ +4 2 I/
14 + 8 I
Abs#14 8 I'
2 Sqrt[65]
2.
Algebra
1. Factoring polynomials
Factor#x ^ 8 1'
2
4
(-1 + x) (1 + x) (1 + x ) (1 + x )
Factor#x ^ 12 y ^ 12'
2
2
2
2
2
2
4
2 2
4
(x - y) (x + y) (x + y ) (x - x y + y ) (x + x y + y ) (x - x y + y )
Atcm98''.nb
2. Expanding polynomials.
Expand#+2 x 3 y/ ^ 10'
10
9
8 2
7 3
6 4
1024 x
- 15360 x y + 103680 x y - 414720 x y + 1088640 x y 5 5
4 6
3 7
2 8
1959552 x y + 2449440 x y - 2099520 x y + 1180980 x y 9
10
393660 x y + 59049 y
Factor#%'
10
(2 x - 3 y)
3. Simplifying algebraic expressions

Simplify#x +1 x/ +2 x 3/ ^ 2'
2
9 - 11 x + 5 x
Simplify#1 s +1 x/ 1 s +1 x/'
-2
-----------2
-1 + x
3. Evaluating expressions at a given value

2 x^3 3 x^2 4 x 5
s. x ! 3
44
+2 x y/ s Sqrt#x ^ 2 y ^ 2' s. x ! 2.3, y ! 4.3

4.05621
4. Functional notation and evaluating functions

f#x_' : 2 x ^ 2 3 x 5
f#3'
14
g#x_, y_' :
+x 2 y/ s Sqrt#x ^ 2 y ^ 2'
g#3, 4'
-1
5. Making a table of values for a given function
Atcm98''.nb
Table#2 x ^ 2 3,
x, 5, 5, 0.5'
{47, 37.5, 29., 21.5, 15., 9.5, 5., 1.5, -1., -2.5, -3., -2.5, -1., 1.5, 5.
21.5, 29., 37.5, 47.}
6. Summations and products

Sum#i ^ 3 2 i ^ 2 5, i, 1, 12'
4844
Product#2 i 3, i, 1, 12'

71152682225625
7. Solving equations
Solve#3 x ^ 2 2 x 1
0, x'
1
{{x -> -(-)}, {x -> 1}}
3
x s. %
1
{-(-), 1}
3
Solve#x ^ 4 x ^ 3 6 x ^ 2 8 x 16
0, x'
{{x -> -2}, {x -> 1}, {x -> -2 I Sqrt[2]}, {x -> 2 I Sqrt[2]}}
NSolve#+2 x 1/ ^ 2 1
x ^ 3 2 x, x'
{{x -> -0.44949}, {x -> 0.}, {x -> 4.44949}}
FindRoot#+2 x 1/ ^ 2 1
x ^ 3 2 x, x, 6'
{x -> 4.44949}
8. Solving systems of equations

Solve#2 x 3 y
4,
13
14
{{x -> --,
- y -> --}}
17
17
3.
Calculus
1. Derivatives of functions
3 x 4 y
1, x, y'
Atcm98''.nb
D#x ^ 4, x'
3
4 x
D#x ^ 4, x, 2'

2
12 x
Here is another method of finding and evaluating derivatives of a function.

f#x_' : x ^ 4
f'#x'
3
4 x
f''#x'
2
12 x
f'#5'
500
2. Indefinite and definite integrals of functions

Integrate#x ^ 2, x'
3
x
-3
Integrate#x ^ 2, x, 1, 2'

7
3
NIntegrate#Sin#x ^ 2', x, 0, 1'

0.310268
3. Limits of functions
Limit#+x ^ 2 4/ s +x 2/, x ! 2'
4
Limit#1 s x, x ! Infinity'
0
Atcm98''.nb
4.
Graphing Functions
1. Single variable functions - Basic plot command

Plot#x ^ 2, x,
3, 3'
8
6
4
2
-3 -2 -1
-Graphics-
2. Single variable functions - Plots with styling

Plot#x ^ 2, x,
2, 2,
PlotStyle ! RGBColor#0.6, 0.4, 0.8''
4
3
2
1
-2
-1
-Graphics-
Plot#x ^ 2, x,
2, 2,
4
3
2
1
-2
-1
-Graphics-
PlotStyle ! Thickness#1 s 50''
Atcm98''.nb
Plot#x ^ 2, x, 2, 2, PlotStyle !

RGBColor#0.2, 0.6, 0.1',
Thickness#1 s 80', Dashing#0.05, 0.02''
4
3
2
1
-2
-1
-Graphics-
3 . Graphing more than one function

Plot#5 x ^ 2, 2 x 2, x, 4, 4, PlotStyle !
RGBColor#1, 0, 0', Thickness#1 s 90',
RGBColor#0, 0, 1', Thickness#1 s 200''
10
5
-4
-2
-5
-10
-Graphics-
4. Implicit plots
Graphics`ImplicitPlot`
ImplicitPlot#x ^ 2 y ^ 2
3
2
1
-3 -2 -1
-1
-2
-3
1 2 3
-Graphics-Graphics-
5. Parametric plots
9, x,
4, 4'
Atcm98''.nb
ParametricPlot#Cos#t', Sin#t', t, 0, 2 Pi'

1
0.5
-1 -0.5
-0.5
0.5
-1
-Graphics-
Show#%, AspectRatio ! Automatic'

1
0.5
-1 -0.5
0.5
-0.5
-1
-Graphics-
6. Graphing two variable functions

Plot3D#x ^ 2 y ^ 2, x,
20
0
-20
-4
4-2
0
5, 5, y, 5, 5'
4
2
0
-2
2 4 -4
-SurfaceGraphics-
Plot3D#Sin#x ^ 2 y ^ 2' s Sqrt#x ^ 2 y ^ 2', x,
0.4
0.2
0
-0.2
-0.4
-5
5
0
0
-5
-SurfaceGraphics-
8, 8, y, 8, 8'
Atcm98''.nb
5.
10
Animations
1. Animating a parabola
Do#Plot#k x ^ 2, x, 2, 2, PlotRange ! 2, 2, 7, 7,
PlotStyle ! Thickness#1 s 120', RGBColor#1, 0, 0'',
k, 3, 3, 0.5'
6
4
2
-2 -1.5 -1 -0.5
-2
0.5
1.5
-4
-6
2. Cubic polynomials, roots and tangents

4
3
2
1
0
1.251.51.75 2 2.252.52.75 3
-1
-2
3. Animation of a 3-D surface

Do[Plot3D[k*Sin[x^2 + y^2]/Sqrt[x^2 + y^2], {x, -8, 8},
{y, -8,8}, PlotRange -> {-7, 7}], {k, -7, 7, 0.5}]
5
0
-5
-5
5
0
0
-5

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Atcm98''.

MATHEMATICA FOR THE BEGINNER

Arithmetic and Numerical Calculations

3. Approximating other radicals and exponents

4. Calculations involving pi and e

N#Log#10, E', 12'

3. Simplifying algebraic expressions

3. Evaluating expressions at a given value

+2 x y/ s Sqrt#x ^ 2  y ^ 2' s. x ! 2.3, y ! 4.3

4. Functional notation and evaluating functions

6. Summations and products

Product#2 i  3, i, 1, 12'

{{x -> -2}, {x -> 1}, {x -> -2 I Sqrt[2]}, {x -> 2 I Sqrt[2]}}

{{x -> -0.44949}, {x -> 0.}, {x -> 4.44949}}

8. Solving systems of equations

1, x, y'

D#x ^ 4, x, 2'

Here is another method of finding and evaluating derivatives of a function.

2. Indefinite and definite integrals of functions

Integrate#x ^ 2, x, 1, 2'

NIntegrate#Sin#x ^ 2', x, 0, 1'

1. Single variable functions - Basic plot command

2. Single variable functions - Plots with styling

PlotStyle ! RGBColor#0.6, 0.4, 0.8''

PlotStyle ! Thickness#1 s 50''

Plot#x ^ 2, x,  2, 2, PlotStyle !

3 . Graphing more than one function

ParametricPlot#Cos#t', Sin#t', t, 0, 2 Pi'

Show#%, AspectRatio ! Automatic'

6. Graphing two variable functions

 5, 5, y,  5, 5'

Plot3D#Sin#x ^ 2  y ^ 2' s Sqrt#x ^ 2  y ^ 2', x,

 8, 8, y,  8, 8'

2. Cubic polynomials, roots and tangents

3. Animation of a 3-D surface

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+2 x y/ s Sqrt#x ^ 2 y ^ 2' s. x ! 2.3, y ! 4.3

Product#2 i 3, i, 1, 12'

1, x, y'

D#x ^ 4, x, 2'

Integrate#x ^ 2, x, 1, 2'

NIntegrate#Sin#x ^ 2', x, 0, 1'

PlotStyle ! RGBColor#0.6, 0.4, 0.8''

PlotStyle ! Thickness#1 s 50''

Plot#x ^ 2, x, 2, 2, PlotStyle !

ParametricPlot#Cos#t', Sin#t', t, 0, 2 Pi'

Show#%, AspectRatio ! Automatic'

5, 5, y, 5, 5'

Plot3D#Sin#x ^ 2 y ^ 2' s Sqrt#x ^ 2 y ^ 2', x,

8, 8, y, 8, 8'