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When thinking about re-learning math I always think of doing it through some Computer Algebra System. It seems to me like a way better way to learn math, allowi

When thinking about re-learning math I always think of doing it through some Computer Algebra System. It seems to me like a way better way to learn math, allowing me to tinker with things and treat subjects as black boxes (what's the ouput of X process if I change the input to Y?) as opposed to just try to understand the static examples presented on paper. The problem is the embarrassment of riches [1]. Compounding the problem is the awful marketing some of this products have for casual and hobby learners. At this point, I'm willing to spend a few hundred dollars for a personal edition of a product like Wolfram's Mathematica, Matlab or Maple, but I'm not sure what would be the best investment for my time and money. Could you recommended any courses or books using a CAS to teach math concepts and applications? 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_computer_algebra_systems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_computer_algebra_syste...

ducttapecrown 8y ago
http://abstract.ups.edu/sage-aata.html http://abstract.ups.edu/sage-aata.html
jointpdf 8y ago
I’ve dabbled enough with SymPy to recommend it. Jupyter + SymPy (+ the rest of SciPy) gets you a pretty long ways toward one of the M programs. Here’s a book: https://the-eye.eu/public/Books/HumbleBundle/doingmathwithpython.pdf https://the-eye.eu/public/Books/HumbleBundle/doingmathwithpy... Opinion: There’d be a lot more people interested in math if it were taught with greater emphasis on visualization, experimentation, and self-verification (i.e. via CAS/programming). Speaking for myself, it vastly enhances the value of my “pen and paper” and “stare at book” math time (the old fashioned way—also valuable and necessary, but [for me] not sufficient, for deep understanding).
- mlevental 8y ago
  does sympy really do alegbra (like magma) or just standard linear algebra and polynomial type stuff
  - jointpdf 8y ago
    Not sure what you’re looking for in particular, but SymPy definitely goes beyond the basics. Here’s a list of the modules: https://docs.sympy.org/latest/modules/index.html https://docs.sympy.org/latest/modules/index.html

ducttapecrown 8y ago

http://abstract.ups.edu/sage-aata.html http://abstract.ups.edu/sage-aata.html

jointpdf 8y ago

I’ve dabbled enough with SymPy to recommend it. Jupyter + SymPy (+ the rest of SciPy) gets you a pretty long ways toward one of the M programs. Here’s a book: https://the-eye.eu/public/Books/HumbleBundle/doingmathwithpython.pdf https://the-eye.eu/public/Books/HumbleBundle/doingmathwithpy... Opinion: There’d be a lot more people interested in math if it were taught with greater emphasis on visualization, experimentation, and self-verification (i.e. via CAS/programming). Speaking for myself, it vastly enhances the value of my “pen and paper” and “stare at book” math time (the old fashioned way—also valuable and necessary, but [for me] not sufficient, for deep understanding).

mlevental 8y ago
does sympy really do alegbra (like magma) or just standard linear algebra and polynomial type stuff
- jointpdf 8y ago
  Not sure what you’re looking for in particular, but SymPy definitely goes beyond the basics. Here’s a list of the modules: https://docs.sympy.org/latest/modules/index.html https://docs.sympy.org/latest/modules/index.html