CHAPTER 1: Algebra Review 33
1.3f Doing Algebra with Maple
Maple is a computer algebra system. To use it we:
type a command at the prompt (the > symbol),
finish the command with a semicolon (the ; symbol),
press the Enter key with the cursor anywhere in the command line to execute it.
To solve the equation a x b y c for x we use this command:
> so lve( a *x+ b *y=c , x);
b yc
a
Notice that the result is printed on the next line after the command. We can assign a complicated
expression or equation to a variable (using the := symbols). This is useful to verify that we
entered it correctly. For example here we solve the equation from Example 1.27.
> eq var := x/(5 + x) ^2 =6* x/(5 +6 * x/(6 +x)) ^2/(6 + x);
x 6x
eqvar :
5 x
2 2
6x
5 6 x
6 x
> so lve( eq va r, x);
15 10
0, 0, ,
2 3
Notice that the s o l v e command gives the solution in exact form (in this case as a list of integers
and fractions). Here is the equation from Example 1.30.
> eq2 := x=1/ x+1/( x‐ 5);
1 1
eq2 : x
x x 5
If we try the so lve command on this we get an exact solution but it is so complicated that it is
gibberish. It is better to ask for a numerical (approximate) solution using the f so l v e command.
We have to specify the interval that contains the root just as we did for the bisection method. Here
is how we look for the root in the interval between 4 and 6:
> f so l v e( eq 2 , x=4 . .6);
5.200
To control the number of sig. figs. used in the course of a calculation we can use the D igit s
command. To control the number of decimal places displayed in an answer we can use the
interface command.
> Digits: =16;
> in t er fa ce(d i sp l ayp r eci s i on =3) ;
Some other useful commands are p lo t to plot a graph, e xp an d to expand an expression, fac to r
to factor an expression and simplify to simplify an expression or to add fractions. To get help on
any topic press ctrl-F1.
