1  Lab 1: Intro to Maxima-CAS

Objective

The objective of Lab 1 is to explore the typical functions, tools, and formats for reporting we will use throughout the semester. This lab provides an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the essential features and capabilities of the software.

1.1 Using wxMaxima

  • In all labs, you will use wxMaxima, an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Maxima. wxMaxima provides a user-friendly interface for working with Maxima.

Create a new document in wxMaxima and then complete each of the following instructions:

1.2 Step by Step Instructions

  • Press “Ctrl + 2”. 1

  • Type:

Lab 1, MAT 201
"Semester" - "Year"
"Your Lastname"
"Today's date"(mmddyy).

  • Press “Ctrl +3” 2
  • To the right of 1. Type: “1. Maxima as a scientific calculator”.
  • Press “Ctrl +4” 3.
  • To the right of 1.1. Type: “1.1 Maxima have stored the values of important constants”.
  • Press “Ctrl +5” 4
  • Press “Ctrl +0” 5
  • Type:
a: 1;
b: 5/2;
%pi;
float(%);
%e,numer;

at the end of the last line press Shift+Enter, this will run your first chunk of code (script).

  • Press “Ctrl +1” This will create a text field, comment in the text field what output you get after you run your first script.
  • Press “Ctrl +4” This will create your second subsection. To the right of 1.2. Type: “1.2 Maxima can evaluate trigonometric functions”.
  • Press “Ctrl +0” This will create a math mode, evaluate sin(%pi/2), cos(%pi/2), asin(1/2), acos(1/2).
  • Press “Ctrl +4” This will create your third subsection. To the right of 1.3. Type: “1.3 Maxima can evaluate exponentials and natural logarithms”.
  • Press “Ctrl +0” This will create a math mode, provide and evaluate different examples of exponentials (e.g. exp(-1)) and natural logarithms (e.g. log(%e)).
  • Press “Ctrl +3” This will create your second section. To the right of 2. Type: “2. Maxima can create and plot functions very easily”.
  • Press “Ctrl +4” This will create your first subsection for section 2. To the right of 2.1. Type: “2.1 Maxima can define functions easily”.
  • Press “Ctrl +0” This will create a math mode, type:
define(parabola(x),x^2);
define(linea(x),x);
parabola(1);
parabola(2);
parabola(3);
linea(1);
linea(2);
linea(3);

Run The previous script.

  • Press “Ctrl +1” This will create a text field, comment in the text field what you get in your previous output variables.
  • Press “Ctrl +4” This will create your second subsection for section 2. To the right of 2.2. Type: “2.2 Maxima can plot functions very easily”.
  • Press "Ctrl +0” This will create a math mode, type:
plot2d(parabola(x),[x,-1,1]);

Run The previous script.

  • After observing the pop out windows, close it.
  • Press “Ctrl +0” This will create a math mode, add wxin front of plot2d, and execute the last command line again. At the end of the line code press “Shift+Enter”.
  • Press “Ctrl +1” This will create a text field, comment in the differences of both plottings. plot2d vs wxplot2d
  • Press “Ctrl +0” This will create a math mode:
plot2d([parabola(x),linea(x)],[x,-1,1]);

Run The previous script.

  • Press “Ctrl +1” This will create a text field, comment of what was need it to have two(or more) functions on the same window?
  • Google(or chatgpt) in how to define a list using maxima-cas.
  • Press “Ctrl +0”. Create the variable list1 as a list with three numerical elements on it. Call the value of each element of the list by the number of its position, e.g. list1[1];list1[2]; list1[3];
  • Press “Ctrl +3” This will create your third section. To the right of 3. Type: “3. Maxima can solve systems of equations”.
  • Press “Ctrl +0” This will create a math mode, type:
ec1: x+y=1;
ec2: x-y=1;
sol: solve([ec1,ec2],[x,y]);
rhs(first(first(sol)));
rhs(second(first(sol)));
lhs(first(first(sol)));
lhs(second(first(sol)));

Run The previous script.

  • Press “Ctrl +1” This will create a text field, comment on your results.
  • Press “Ctrl +3” This will create your fourth section. To the right of 4. Type: “4. Maxima can do more”.
  • Create different subsections showing what else maxima can do. Be creative. Browse the help section of wxmaxima.

1.3 Submitting Your Lab Report (D2L)

  • Before the end of the lab submit your partial work: WORK_Lab1_Calc1_YOURLASTNAME_mmddyy.wxmx.
  • Once you have completed all sections, be sure run correctly the whole document by pressing Ctrl + R, if everything looks correctly, submit your FINAL .wxmx file to the designated Dropbox folder in D2L.
  • Ensure that your file is correctly named and includes any necessary identifying information (such as your name, lab name, date) as specified by your instructor, i.e. FINAL_Lab1_Calc1_YOURLASTNAME_mmddyy.wxmx.

  1. Ctrl + 2 will create a field on your maxima document for the Title↩︎

  2. Ctrl + 3 will create your first section.↩︎

  3. Ctrl + 4 will create your first subsection.↩︎

  4. Ctrl + 5 will create a sub-subsection.↩︎

  5. Ctrl + 0 will create a math mode.↩︎