Electronic Proceedings of the Fifteenth Annual International Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics

Orlando, Florida, October 31-November 3, 2002

Paper P017

Maple for Applications of Linear Algebra

Dale Siegel


Department of Mathematics & Computer Science
Kingsborough Community College/CUNY
2001 Oriental Boulevard
Brooklyn, NY 11235
USA
Phone: (718) 368-5923


list of all papers by this author

Fred Peskoff


Department of Mathematics
Borough of Manhattan Community College/CUNY
199 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10007
USA
Phone: (212) 220-1353


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ABSTRACT

This paper consists of a complete set of computer laboratory projects for solving problems in linear algebra using the computer algebra system, Maple. The projects progress from precalculus mathematics to traditional linear algebra topics and then applications of linear algebra. There are twelve projects with the following (abbreviated) titles: (1) Intro. to Maple, (2) Functions, (3) Matrix/Vector Operations, (4) Linear Systems, (5) Row Reduction of Matrices, (6) Linear Transformations, (7) Determinants, (8) Eigenvalues, (9) Least Squares, (10) Linear Programming, (11) Markov Chains, (12) Other Applications

The content of each lab, following a brief aim and description, is to present problems and give the commands necessary to solve them using Maple. The student need only input the commands and hit enter to receive the desired output. Additional (homework) exercises can be given to challenge the students outside of class time. Over the past 5 years, the author has successfully used these projects to teach linear algebra. Student feedback and performance have been excellent.

The projects containing applications will be on display. Copies of the entire set will be available for distribution.

Keyword(s): Maple, linear algebra