 The
"Labs" link takes you to some possibly useful information/notebooks on how to use the Mathematica Software
for general problems and for classes I teach. There are two
optional books I have found interesting and or useful while working with
Mathematica. The first is more of a reference as to techniques and
methods: Mathematica Navigator, Graphics and Methods of
Applied Mathematics by Heikki Ruskeepaa. The second has some interesting
programs: Animating Calculus, Mathematica Notebooks for the
Laboratory by Ed Packel and Stan Wagon. Both books have been requested
by me to be optional books for this class. This means the bookstore will
have some copies available. If you can afford to purchase Mathematica
Software for Students ( about $130 ) and you are certain you will be
taking at least the Calculus sequence here at Fresno, I suggest you
consider buying the program. It is fairly straightforward to transfer
work from home to the lab at school and from school to home and the
flexibility to work at home ( and experiment at home ) should come in
handy. I would suggest that you do not buy The Mathematica
Book. This is the official manual and costs about $50. I bought the book
and have for the most part never used it. The help system in the
software is the book and the help system is easier to search. |