A
computer algebra system (
CAS) is a
software program that facilitates
symbolic mathematics. The core functionality of a CAS is manipulation of mathematical expressions in symbolic form.
Symbolic manipulations
The symbolic manipulations supported typically include:
simplification to a smaller expression or some standard form, including automatic simplification with assumptions and simplification with constraints
substitution of symbols or numeric values for certain expressions
change of form of expressions: expanding products and powers, partial and full factorization, rewriting as partial fractions, constraint satisfaction, rewriting trigonometric functions as exponentials, transforming logic expressions, etc.
partial and total differentiation
some indefinite and definite integration (see symbolic integration), including multidimensional integrals
symbolic constrained and unconstrained global optimization
solution of linear and some non-linear equations over various domains
solution of some differential and difference equations
taking some limits
integral transforms
series operations such as expansion, summation and products
matrix operations including products, inverses, etc.
statistical computation
theorem proving and verification which is very useful in the area of experimental mathematics
optimized code generation
In the above, the word some indicates that the operation cannot always be performed.
Additional capabilities
Many also include:
a programming language, allowing users to implement their own algorithms
arbitrary-precision numeric operations
exact integer arithmetic and number theory functionality
Editing of mathematical expressions in two-dimensional form
plotting graphs and parametric plots of functions in two and three dimensions, and animating them
drawing charts and diagrams
APIs for linking it on an external program such as a database, or using in a programming language to use the computer algebra system
string manipulation such as matching and searching
add-ons for use in applied mathematics such as physics, bioinformatics, computational chemistry and packages for physical computation
Some include:
graphic production and editing such as computer generated imagery and signal processing as image processing
sound synthesis
Some computer algebra systems focus on a specific area of application; these are typically developed in academia and are free. They can be inefficient for numeric operations compared to numeric systems.
Types of expressions
The expressions manipulated by the CAS typically include
polynomials in multiple variables; standard functions of expressions (
sine,
exponential, etc.); various special functions (
Γ,
ζ,
erf,
Bessel functions, etc.); arbitrary functions of expressions; optimization; derivatives, integrals, simplifications, sums, and products of expressions; truncated
series with expressions as coefficients,
matrices of expressions, and so on. Numeric domains supported typically include
real,
complex,
interval,
rational, and
algebraic.
History
Computer algebra systems began to appear in the 1960s, and evolved out of two quite different sources - the requirements of theoretical physicists and research into
artificial intelligence.
A prime example for the first development was the pioneering work conducted by the later Nobel Prize laureate in physics Martin Veltman, who designed a program for symbolic mathematics, especially High Energy Physics, called Schoonschip (Dutch for "clean ship") in 1963.
Using LISP as the programming basis, Carl Engelman created MATHLAB in 1964 at MITRE within an artificial intelligence research environment. Later MATHLAB was made available to users on PDP-6 and PDP-10 Systems running TOPS-10 or TENEX in universities. Today it can still be used on SIMH-Emulations of the PDP-10. MATHLAB ("mathematical laboratory") should not be confused with MATLAB ("matrix laboratory") which is a system for numerical computation built 15 years later at the University of New Mexico, accidentally named rather similarly.
The first popular computer algebra systems were muMATH, Reduce, Derive (based on muMATH), and Macsyma; a popular copyleft version of Macsyma called Maxima is actively being maintained. As of today, the most popular commercial systems are Mathematica and Maple, which are commonly used by research mathematicians, scientists, and engineers. Freely available alternatives include Sage (which can act as a front-end to several other free and nonfree CAS).
In 1987 Hewlett-Packard introduced the first hand held calculator CAS with the HP-28 series, and it was possible, for the first time in a calculator, to arrange algebraic expressions, differentiation, limited symbolic integration, Taylor series construction and a solver for algebraic equations.
The Texas Instruments company in 1995 released the TI-92 calculator with an advanced CAS based on the software Derive. This, along with its successors (including the TI-89 series and the newer TI-Nspire CAS released in 2007) featured a reasonably capable and inexpensive hand-held computer algebra system.
CAS-equipped calculators are not permitted on the ACT, the PLAN, and in some classrooms because they may affect the integrity of the test/class, though it may be permitted on all of College Board's calculator-permitted tests, including the SAT, some SAT Subject Tests and the AP Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, and Statistics exams.
Mathematics used in computer algebra systems
Symbolic integration - Risch algorithm
Hypergeometric summation - Gosper's algorithm
Limit computation - Gruntz's algorithm
Polynomial factorization. Over finite fields, Berlekamp's algorithm or Cantor–Zassenhaus algorithm is used.
Greatest common divisor - Euclidean algorithm
Gaussian elimination
Gröbner basis - Buchberger's algorithm; generalization of Euclidean algorithm and Gaussian elimination
Padé approximant
Schwartz–Zippel lemma and testing polynomial identities
Chinese remainder theorem
Diophantine equations
Quantifier elimination over real numbers - Tarski's method/Cylindrical algebraic decomposition
Landau's algorithm
Derivatives of elementary and special functions (e.g. see Incomplete Gamma function)
See also
Comparison of computer algebra systems
Scientific computation
Statistical package
Algebraic algorithms
Symbolic computation
Automated theorem proving
Artificial intelligence
Constraint-logic programming
References
External links
Definition and workings of a computer algebra system
Curriculum and Assessment in an Age of Computer Algebra Systems - From the Education Resources Information Center Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education, Columbus, Ohio.
Richard J. Fateman. "Essays in algebraic simplification". Technical report MIT-LCS-TR-095, 1972. (Of historical interest in showing the direction of research in computer algebra. At the MIT LCS web site: )
The STACK computer aided assessment system.
A collection of computer algebra systems
![[Mathematik] Erste Schritte in WxMaxima](http://web.archive.org./web/20110907032804im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bxDilwpaCqU/0.jpg "[Mathematik] Erste Schritte in WxMaxima")
