Before BeginningMathematica is software. It is a computer program. Like WORD or EXCEL, or DOOM, or Internet Explorer.
Like WORD, with Mathematica you have a file that you type stuff into and store on your computer somewhere.
These are called notebooks. If you tried to open a WORD file in DOOM you would get an error.
Same with Mathematica notebooks. You can only read them in Mathematica.
Calculus&Mathematica, the courseware, is a bunch of notebooks. They, themselves, do nothing. You have to open them in
Mathematica. Mathematica decodes them and then displays them on the screen.
Calculus&Mathematica is the textbook for this course. It is an interactive textbook and you
need Mathematica to interact with the textbook.
There is also a physical textbook. It is a printout of all of the notebooks. It is nice to carry home and
think about math at home.
Getting Started with MathematicaWhat should you do first?
The first thing you should do is realize that we are not starting the math for a while.
We are going to take some time to
get familiar with Mathematica and the distance learning environment.
What should you do second?
The second thing you should do is realize that this isn't a course in Mathematica. It is a math
course. Mathematica is just a learning tool. Don't waste lots of time trying to discover how
Mathematica works. Just ask us.
We have lots of Mathematica stuff to go through to show you how it works, how you interact with it, and
how to use the tool to help you learn math. The Hotline is there for your Mathematica questions also.
It is going to take some time to get familiar with everything around here. Just relax and take your
time and ask questions.
Even after the introductory materials, the whole first math lesson is still mostly about Mathematica.
Even after that each lesson with show you the commands you need and how to use them. Copy/Paste works great.
What should you do third?
The third thing you should do is quite whining and worrying and just jump in. We won't let you drown.
There is a folder called "Calculus&Mathematica/Documentation/English/" on the
Calculus&Mathematica CD you received (or will receive) for this class. In that folder
there are several Mathematica notebooks to look at. These are Mathematica notebooks(files).
You can only read them in Mathematica. These notebooks will get you off the ground and moving.
If the CD isn't handy, here are links to download the notebooks to your computer...
Remember:
The folders and notebooks we refer to here are on the Calculus&Mathematica course CD,
and not the Mathematica application software CD itself.
More Mathematica
Are you experiencing technical difficulties? Don't feel bad, it happens to all of us.
