Basic Commands

Basic commands for Maple

Basic syntax; Almost any mathematical expression is available in Maple. The operations addition , subtraction(), multiplication ( * ), and division $\left( ~/~\right)$ must be explicitly stated. Powers are denoted with a ^. Thus 3^2 is Maple for $3^{2}.$ Square roots can be taken with the sqrt(expr) command and of course with the power command. We have sqrt(8) and 8^(1/2) mean the same thing, namely $\sqrt{8}.$
The semicolon, ( ; ) Every Maple command must end with a semicolon. It is the semicolon that signals to Maple that the command is ready to be executed. Thus we have the quadratic equation.

> x^2-3*x+3;

$x^{2}-3x+3$

Two mathematical statements can be placed on the same line. Usually there will be a line of output for each command. For example,

> x^2-3*x+3;subs(x=2,x^2-3*x+3);

$x^{2}-3x+3$

Exactness paradigm. Maple reports answer only if they are exact with the exception that if decimal numbers are implied, then Maple will make approximate computations. For example,

> arctan(1);

$\dfrac{1}{4}\pi$

> arctan(1.0);

0.7853981634

In the first expression the one is the exact one. Therefore, Maple returns an exact answer. In the second expression, the request to find the inverse tangent of 1.0 signals that the one is not exact, that the number 1.0 is itself an approximation (to something). Hence, it returns an approximation to the answer. Similarly, we have

> sqrt(8); sqrt(8.0);

2 sqrt(2)

2.828427125

"Though not a mathematical command, help is a command we strongly recommend that every

Maple user become familiar with. The Maple help pages are

comprehensive and

very well written."

Help. Help is a command with syntax:

?topic or ?topic,subtopicor

help(topic) or help(topic,subtopic)

There are other forms, as well. In addition, one can obtain help by selecting the Help+Full Topic Search buttons from the main menu line. Examples:

> ?help;

> help(intro)

gives an excellent introduction to Maple.

> ?least squares;

gives important information on how to compute the least squares approximation of a data set.

Assignment. If you wish to assign a mathematical expression to a new variable use the := notation. For example, the command

> f := sqrt(8);

$f:=2\sqrt{2}$

will assign the value $\sqrt{8}=2\sqrt{2}$ to the variable f. It is very easy to forget the colon in the assignment process. This is one mistake you are likely to make - even more than once.

Expand. The expand command is useful for expanding various mathematical expressions. The syntax is:

expand(expr, expr1, expr2, ..., exprn);

where the arguments are mathematical expressions. The primary application of expand is to distribute products over sums. This is done for all polynomials. For quotients of polynomials, only sums in the numerator are expanded --- products and powers are left alone. Expand also knows how to expand most of the mathematical functions, including sin, cos, tan, exp, and others. Examples,

> expand((x+1)*(x+2));

$x^{2}+3x+2$

> expand((x+1)/(x+2));

> expand((x^2+1)^7);

We will apply expand to other types of functions in the chapter on basic functions.

Simplify. The simplify command is in some ways the opposite of the expand command. The syntax is

simplify(expr);

simplify(expr, n1, n2, ...);

simplify(expr, assume=prop);

where expr is any expression and n1 , n2,... - (optional) are names or sets or lists. Prop denotes any property, such as "real", or "positive". The simplify function is used to apply simplification rules to an expression. If only one argument is present, then simplify will search the expression for function calls, square roots, radicals, and powers. In the case of two or more arguments where the additional arguments are names, simplify will only invoke the simplification procedures specified by the additional arguments. Examples:

> simplify(4^(1/2)+3);

> simplify((x^a)^b+4^(1/2), power);

Factor. The factor function is in some ways the opposite of the simplify command for power. The syntax is

factor(expr);

where expr is a multivariate polynomial with integer, rational, (complex) numeric, or algebraic number coefficients.

For example consider

> f :=expand((x^2+1)^7);

> factor (f);

This command is remarkably handy. What will it do, if the factorization is more complicated? Consider the expression What will happen if we factor this cubic?

> factor (x^3+x^2+x+1);
MATH

But with just a dash of specific information such as the fact we are dealing with complex numbers we obtain

> factor (x^3+x^2+x+1, complex);
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Maple has factored the polynomial in the complex plane. Mathematically, any quartic has a factorization into irreducible (over the field of reals) quadratics and has linear factors in the complex plane. Maple will find the quadratic factors, if it can. However if you give integers, the exactness paradigm forces Maple to that end. For example, we have

> factor(x^4+2*x^3+x^2+x+1); Here everything must be exact.

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> factor(x^4+2*x^3+x^2+x+1.0); Here numerical answers are allowed; hence Maple finds ONE irreducble quadratic and the other factors.
MATH
$\allowbreak$

> factor(x^4+2*x^3+x^2+x+1, complex); All four complex (real) roots are computed.
MATH

$\vspace{1pt}$

Exercise

Try these commands factor(x^5+x^4+2*x^3+x^2+x+1); and factor(x^5+x^4+2*x^3+x^2+x+1, complex);

Combine. The combine function is good for grouping powers. The syntax is

combine(f, power);

Parameters: f - any expression involving powers are combined by applying the following transformations:

x^y*x^z ==> x^(y+z)

(x^y)^z ==> x^(y*z)

exp(x)*exp(y) ==> exp(x+y)

exp(x)^y ==> exp(x*y)

sqrt(-a) ==> I*sqrt(a)

a^n*b^n ==> (a*b)^n

Examples:

> combine(x^2*x^3, power);
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> combine((x^z)^2, power);

$\allowbreak x^{2z}$

Other key words in the combine function may also yield useful results. For example,

combine(f, exp);

where expressions involving exponentials are combined by applying the following transformations:

exp(x)*exp(y) ==> exp(x+y)

exp(x)^y ==> exp(x*y)

exp(x+n*ln(y)) ==> y^n*exp(x) where n is an integer

Other combine commands are combine(f, ln), combine(expr, radical), and combine(f, trig). Each has obvious connotations.

Digits. You can change the number of digits you compute with using the Digits command. The syntax is

where n is the number of digits you wish to compute with. Examples

> Digits:=25;

Digits := 25

> sqrt(2.0);

1.414213562373095048801689

> 4*arctan(1.0);

3.141592653589793238462643

Exercise

Set the number of digits to 1500 and execute the two commands above.

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