Abdelhamid Ibn Badis University

Faculty of Exact Sciences and Computer Science

Departement of Mathematics and Computer Science
1st Year Mathematics and Computer Science Degree
Programming Tools For Mathematics (2023/2024)

Getting Started With

Maple

H.Ali Merina
2023-2024
Introduction to Maple

The term "symbolic computation" or "computer algebra" involves representing and manipulating
mathematical objects within a computer. This leads to powerful tools known as "Computer
Algebra Systems" (CAS), essential for professionals in various fields, including mathematicians,
physicists, chemists, engineers, technicians, psychologists, and sociologists. Maple, an example
of such software, performs precise calculations without relying on specific numerical values for
variables. But before diving into Maple, it's essential to differentiate between other types of
mathematical computation.

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Numeric computation, or scientific computation, simplifies calculations to basic arithmetic
operations on numbers represented by limited symbols (digits). This introduces approximation and
error due to floating-point representations and discretization. Programming languages like Fortran, C,
and Pascal, as well as numerical software like Matlab, are commonly used for numeric computations.

On the other hand, symbolic computation involves working with symbols representing various mathematical
objects, such as numbers, polynomials, rational functions, and algebraic structures. The emphasis is on
exact computations following algebraic rules, avoiding the imprecision of approximate floating-point
arithmetic. Examples include factorization of polynomials, differentiation, integration, series expansion,
analytic solution of differential equations, and simplification of mathematical expressions.

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 Maple: A powerful all-in-one math tool for diverse user groups, Maple, introduced in 1981 by
Waterloo Maple Inc., is a versatile software that combines:

1. Symbolic manipulation: Solve problems algebraically without numerical values.

2. Numerical mathematics: Perform precise calculations with numbers.

3. Outstanding graphics: Visualize your results for deeper understanding.

4. Sophisticated programming language: Automate tasks and extend Maple's capabilities.

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 This combination makes Maple the preferred choice for a wide range of users:

1. Scientists and engineers: Solve complex technical problems with precision.

2. Educators and researchers: Explore, explain, and learn mathematics effectively..

3. Students: Tackle challenging math courses with a powerful tool.

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I. Getting Started with Maple
I.1.1 Interface Presentation :

To begin, ensure Maple is installed on your computer. Then, open the program by either
clicking the Maple icon. If you start Maple by selecting the Maple icon, a blank untitled
worksheet is opened, as illustrated in the following screenshot.

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 Provides access to various commands and functions.

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Menu Bar
 Contains shortcuts to frequently used tools and commands.

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ToolBar
 Provides tools and symbols for creating and editing
mathematical expressions.

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Palette
 Displays the prompt where users enter Maple commands.

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Maple Prompt
 Allows users to input Maple commands and
expressions and displays the results of Maple
computations and commands.

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Worksheet
 In the Startup dialog box, select "Open Blank Worksheet". A blank document will appear. Alternatively,

❑ Close the Startup dialog box.

❑ From the File menu, select New, then Worksheet Mode. A blank document will appear.

In Maple, the default format for entering mathematical expressions is the Math 2-D format. This
results in mathematical expressions of the same quality as those found in textbooks. Entering
mathematical expressions in Math 2-D in Maple can be done using common keyboard keys or
expressions from the palettes.

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 When starting Maple, you should begin by opening a worksheet using the File menu (File menu, select

New, then Worksheet mode). This will allow you to work in worksheet mode (there is also a document

mode for documents with a more visually appealing layout).

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 I.1.2 The worksheet mode
Once Maple has been started, computations can be carried out immediately. The worksheet mode

is preferable for mathematical use of Maple and for experimenting with small programs.

The worksheet starts with a red prompt ([>), indicating where you can enter commands.
To execute a command, either end it with a semicolon or press Enter directly.and vivid as
possible.

In the top toolbar, you will find two symbols: "T" and "[>".

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 By clicking on "T," you can open a text area where you can type comments about your work.

By clicking on "[>", you open a Maple command line for performing calculations.

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 I.2 Getting Help from Maple

Becoming competent with Maple can take a serious investment of time. Maple is a feature-rich

software, and it is not feasible to know all the commands and their syntax that will be covered in

your Labs. Maple's help documentation is highly useful for finding this kind of information, and it's

crucial to know how to use it. There are various ways to access this assistance :

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 Help Menu in Maple

This menu offers guidance on Maple functions and definitions of utilized objects. The help page
includes the function's syntax, an operational description, and illustrative examples. It's often
beneficial to review examples before delving into the detailed function description. The Help
Menu also provides access to diverse tutorials. To access it, press "Open the help system" and
search for a topic to perform a thematic search. This allows you to explore help topics related to
a specific theme or concept.

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 ?
Use of "?" or help(object)
Command Menu in Maple

Alternatively, you can type "?object" or "help(object)" that provides a basic description and syntax
information for the Maple object. For instance, "?plot" or help(plot)offers fundamental
information about the plot function. Understanding these methods will significantly enhance
your efficiency in working with Maple.

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 Remember, Maple's help system is your best friend
21 don't hesitate to use it! work overview
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I.3 Basic Rules of Maple Syntax

Rule 1:

Always end commands with either a semicolon (;) or a colon (:). The semicolon shows the result, while
the colon hides it. (To run a command in Maple without seeing its output, use a colon (:) instead of a
semicolon (;).)).
 Rule 2 :

We can give multiple commands to Maple on the same line:

Rule 3 :

First and foremost, to ensure the preservation of your work, it is recommended that you
immediately utilize the "File" menu and select "Save" or "Save As". Your saved file will possess the
".mw" extension. To open a saved worksheet, use the "File" menu and select "Open." Note that
only the worksheet, not the calculation results, is retrieved in this case.

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If you want to work on the worksheet again and have the previous results available, you will need to re-

execute all the commands in the worksheet. This can be done by validating each command one by one

using the "Enter" key or by using the "Edit" menu, selecting "Execute", and then "Worksheet". Alternatively,

you can choose to re-execute each line individually. Additionally, there is a button with three exclamation

marks (!!!) located on the toolbar above the worksheet that can be used to execute all the commands in

the worksheet.

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 Rule 4 :

Maple distinguishes between uppercase and lowercase letters. For example: The lowercase "pi" (:pi) is

treated as an indeterminate variable in Maple.

Rule 5 :

A hashtag "#" allows you to write a comment that will not be taken into account in the

evaluation.

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 Rule 6 :

The command "restart;" in Maple is used to reset a worksheet, effectively clearing all variables and

operations that have been defined. It is recommended to use it at the beginning of each exercise.

Rule 7 :

In Maple, the percent symbol "%" can be used as an argument to refer to the last result calculated
chronologically. Similarly, "%%" refers to the second-to-last result, and "%%%" refers to the third-to-
last result. This recall technique stops at the third-to-last result.

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Using these percent symbols eliminates the need for copy-pasting previous results and provides a

convenient way to refer to recent calculations within your code.

Rule 8 :

In Maple, quotation marks (") are used to create a string variable.

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 Rule 9 :

When you close your worksheet (after saving), the sheet is saved, but not the calculation results.
Therefore, you have to re-run everything: each line one by one, or by pressing the !!! button on the
toolbar.

Rule 10 :

Sections and subsections are a useful way to organize your worksheet. To create them,

select Insert -> Section for a section and Insert ->Subsection for a subsection.
Once these calculations are done, they remain in the machine's memory for the entire

session. You can navigate up and down the worksheet, reusing these results as needed.

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 I.4 Loading Packages
In Maple, not all functions are predefined, requiring the loading of certain functions using the

command [> readlib(nomfn):. Maple offers a variety of packages, categorized by domain or topic,

each containing numerous functions. For instance, the plots package gathers graphical

representation functions, while the linalg package groups linear algebra functions.

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 To simplify complex matrix calculations, Maple provides also the LinearAlgebra package, loaded using

the "with" command [> with(LinearAlgebra);. If you wish to suppress the display of procedure names

during package loading, use a colon (:) instead of a semicolon (;) at the end of the with command.

You have also: [> with(package) for loading all package resources and [>

package[function] for calling a specific function within a package.

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II. Basic Operations on Numbers,
Expressions, and Functions
II.1 Numerical Calculations and Built-In Functions

The basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and

exponentiation) are performed in the natural way with Maple. Whenever possible, Maple
gives an exact answer and reduces fractions. and follows the standard order of operations
exactly. The following table presents the notation of some mathematical operators:

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 Operator Maple Notation Operator Maple Notation
Addition + The remainder of division mod
Subtraction - The absolute value abs
Multiplication * The integer part floor
Division / Exponentiation exp
Exponentiation ^ or ** The square root sqrt
Factorial !

Here are some examples :

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 The name of a variable can be a combination of letters and numbers, but it must start with a letter,

contain no spaces, and be different from reserved words (Maple commands). The type of a variable is

automatically assigned by Maple according to the context (use whattype).

Example: if A takes the value 2, A will be of type integer, if A takes the value 2., A will be of type float)
some of the predefined types in Maple are: integer (integer), real (float), rational (fraction), complex
(complex), string (string), boolean (boolean), array (array), matrix (matrix).

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 The variable name must not contain punctuation marks, spaces, or special symbols (e.g., +,*,#,%,@).

You can use upper and lowercase letters (but be careful! Maple differentiates between the two!).

Example: XY, xY, and X1 are valid variable names in Maple.

● When a value is assigned to a variable, it is said to be assigned.

● If a variable is not associated with any value, it is said to be unassigned or free.

● To access the content of a variable in Maple, you can simply refer to its name in an expression
or statement.

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 Multiple assignments are possible

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 II.1.1 Built-In Constants

Maple has built-in definitions of many commonly used constants. In particular, e ≈ 2.71828 is

denoted by exp(1), π ≈ 3.14159 is denoted by Pi, and i = √-1 is denoted by I. Usually, Maple

performs complex arithmetic automatically. Other built-in constants include ∞, denoted by infinity.

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II.1.2 Built-In Functions

Maple contains numerous mathematical functions and symbols, as shown in the table below. It is

possible to evaluate these functions at a given point.

Symbol Maple Notation Function Maple Notation

π Pi sin(x) sin(x)
α alpha cos(x) cos(x)
λ lambda tg(x) tan(x)
δ delta cotg(x) cot(x)
θ theta Arcsin(x) ou sin⁻¹(x) arcsin(x)
Δ Delta ex exp(x)
∞ infinity ln(x) ln(x) ou log(x)
β beta log(x) log[10](x)
γ gamma log a (x) log[a](x)
 The print() function allows displaying the value of a variable or a string variable .

The result is 5 # result displayed in the center

The result is 5 # result aligned to the left

• %d: for integers

• %f: for floats

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 II.2 Integer computations

In Computer Algebra system, the operations on integers or rationals are exact. Maple can process

long integers and has a variety of arithmetic functions (factorial, Euclidean division, factorization,

least common multiple, primality test, etc.). The subtypes of integers are: posint, negint, even

(even), odd (odd) and prime (prime), which you can easily identify using type or is functions.

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 Example : A typical integer calculation is that of factorial 10.

Here, some functions using integers :

• iquo(a, b): calculates the quotient of the Euclidean division of a by b (a/b).
• irem(a, b): calculates the remainder of a/b,
• max(x1, x2, ...): allows to calculate the maximum between the integers x1, x2, ...
• igcd(x1, x2, ...): allows to calculate the greatest common divisor (gcd) of the integers x1, x2, ...
• ilcm(x1, x2, ...): allows to calculate the least common multiple of two, three or more integers.
• ifactor(n): factorizes the integer n into prime numbers.
• isprime(n): to test if the integer n is prime.
• ithprime(n): returns the n-th prime integer.
40 • nextprime(n): to know the smallest prime number that succeeds the number n.
 Example

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 II.3 Float computations

Maple's automatic simplification rules for exact numbers (rational numbers) become less well-

defined when dealing with decimal numbers (floats). In calculations involving both types, like sums,

products, or quotients, the decimal numbers 'dominate,' causing the entire expression to become a

decimal number.

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 For other expressions, the primary function for these computations is evalf, which numerically evaluates

an expression (all numbers are converted to floats). An optional argument enables the specification of

the number of significant digits used in the calculation.

Example
Here is Pi with 50 significant digits

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 The precision can also be set by the global variable Digits, which is 10 by default (global change of

Maple's precision). frac(x); # gives the decimal part of a real number x.

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 II.4 Rational Computations

A rational number is a fraction of the form a/b, where a and b are two integers and b≠0.

Example

In this example, the factorials are first evaluated, and then the resulting rational number is simplified :

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 • numer(Fraction); # extracts the numerator of a fraction

• denom(Fraction); # provides the denominator of a fraction.

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 II.5 Boolean computations

Boolean expressions constitute a fundamental category. The two standard forms are true and false. Additional expressions

can be simplified to these forms using the evalb(evalb(expression)) command, which assesses an expression containing

relational operators. Boolean expressions are commonly employed in computer science to govern decisions in algorithms

and programs.

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 II.6 Complex numbers computations

A number is of complex type if it can be expressed in one of two forms :

II.6.1 The usual (algebraic) form:

a + b * I where a is the real part and b is the imaginary part, and the complex number i =
sqrt(-1) is represented by the uppercase letter I.

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 • The evalc(X) command is used to force the result to be in the algebraic form, i.e., to
simplify a complex expression X into the form a * I + b

• The Re(X) command gives the real part of a complex number X.

• The Im(X) command gives the imaginary part of a complex number X.

• The conjugate(X) command will give the conjugate of a complex number X.

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 II.6.2 Polar form :
• The polar(X) command allows obtaining the polar representation of a complex number. The
result will be polar(r, t), where r is the modulus and t is the argument
• The abs(X) command gives the modulus of a complex number X
• The argument(X) command gives the argument of X
• The conjugate(X) command gives the conjugate of a complex number X.

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Summary

• Basic Operations on Numbers, Expressions, and

• Introduction Functions
• Getting Started with Maple • Numerical Calculations and Built-In Functions
• Getting Help from Maple • Integer computations
• Basic Rules of Maple Syntax • Float computations
• Loading Packages • Rational Computations
• Boolean computations
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• Complex numbers computations
Thank you