MathematicaMathematica

Mathematica

What is Mathematica? | Getting Mathematica | What is Mathematica used for?
| What are the best steps to start using Mathematica?

What is Mathematica?

Mathematica is the world's most powerful global computing environment. Ideal for use in engineering, mathematics, finance, physics, chemistry, biology, and a wide range of other fields, it makes possible a new level of automation in algorithmic computation, interactive manipulation, and dynamic presentation--as well as a whole new way of interacting with the world of data.

Getting Mathematica...

Mathematica is currently installed in the following locations:
  • Computer labs: Mathematics/Computer Science labs, Several open labs, Dorm labs

Mathematica can also be installed on:
  • Faculty/staff school-owned machines: Installers are available at the IT Services helpdesk.
  • Faculty/staff personally-owned machines: Installers are available here.
  • Students' personally-owned machines: Students can make a request through Eric Hartman for a license for Mathematica for Students free of charge.

Are you interested in putting Mathematica elsewhere? Please let IT or Andy Dorsett know.

What are the best steps to start using Mathematica?

If you are brand-new to Mathematica, below are some suggestions on the best ways to get started.

Students
  1. Watch the "Hands-On Start to Mathematica" tutorial screencast.
  2. Explore the Learning Center for topics relevant to your interests.
  3. Launch Mathematica, open the Classroom Assistant, and perform your first few computations.
  4. You're now ready for the projects that faculty will assign.

Teaching faculty
  1. Sign up for the "Overview of Mathematica for Education" seminar.
  2. Explore the Learning Center for topics relevant to your interests.
  3. Find some prebuilt examples and courseware from the Demonstrations Project, MathWorld, and the Library Archive.
  4. Assign the above steps in the student section to your classes as homework.

Research faculty
  1. Sign up for the "Overview of Mathematica for Education" seminar.
  2. Take other seminars relevant to your work.
  3. Explore the Learning Center for topics relevant to your interests.
  4. Go to the Demonstrations Project site to see what's possible.
  5. Go to the Library Archive for additional resources.