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Re: Re: Range of Use of Mathematica

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg89128] Re: [mg89061] Re: Range of Use of Mathematica
• From: Murray Eisenberg <murray at math.umass.edu>
• Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 06:23:24 -0400 (EDT)
• Organization: Mathematics & Statistics, Univ. of Mass./Amherst
• References: <g0m8tt$14$1@smc.vnet.net> <g0rkfr$dtv$1@smc.vnet.net> <200805200627.CAA23235@smc.vnet.net> <g11qvh$a6r$1@smc.vnet.net> <200805220637.CAA22441@smc.vnet.net> <g18hvh$km0$1@smc.vnet.net> <200805250718.DAA18797@smc.vnet.net>
• Reply-to: murray at math.umass.edu

And this is one more place where well-conceived and well-executed 
introductory BOOKS about Mathematica 6, or applying Mathematatica 6 to 
specific subject areas, can help.

So far, and so far as I am aware, we have only one instance of this: 
(1) Lynch's "Dynamical Systems with Applications using Mathematica", and 
(2) the additional Mathematica 6 notebooks to accompany Shaw's "Complex 
Analysis with Mathematica".

Now if some of the old pre-version 6 books were updated or, preferably 
perhaps, new ones written, e.g., on:  calculus; differential equations; 
linear algebra; discrete math including combinatorics & graph theory. 
Even a new Glynn & Gray, "Beginner's Guide..."!

My impression is that in (much) earlier Mathematica versions, WRI went 
out of its way to encourage and foster such 3rd party books (some of 
which were, in fact, written by or co-authored by insiders).  Either 
this is not being done or, if it is, there's a considerable lag in such 
efforts seeing the light of day.

I remain convinced that some of the early success of Mathematica was the 
existence of such books, beyond the intrinsic value of the software 
itself.  And I continue to hope that the seemingly print-averse, 
pro-electronic enthusiasts within WRI do not totally dominate the 
direction this takes.


David Bailey wrote:

>  ...
> My comments regarding the size of Mathematica related particularly to 
> the future. The problem is that a new user doesn't know, say, that for 
> his purpose he should concentrate on the kernel functions (he doesn't 
> even know what the kernel is) - he is presented with the totality, and 
> has to figure out how best to use the product. A potential user may get 
> no further than reading a review that presents Mathematica in a way that 
> seems to him to involve an excessive learning curve.

-- 
Murray Eisenberg                     murray at math.umass.edu
Mathematics & Statistics Dept.
Lederle Graduate Research Tower      phone 413 549-1020 (H)
University of Massachusetts                413 545-2859 (W)
710 North Pleasant Street            fax   413 545-1801
Amherst, MA 01003-9305

• References:
  • Re: Range of Use of Mathematica
    • From: David Bailey <dave@Remove_Thisdbailey.co.uk>
  • Re: Range of Use of Mathematica
    • From: David Bailey <dave@Remove_Thisdbailey.co.uk>
  • Re: Range of Use of Mathematica
    • From: David Bailey <dave@Remove_Thisdbailey.co.uk>