Ma 375 - Communicating Mathematics Carl Eberhart and Paul Eakin Class 13 Using Maple to investigate polynomials

Polynomials are fundamental tools in mathematics. They are used from the very beginning in first year algebra. They make a good place to start learning how to use Maple as a ‘symbolic manipulator’

Some terminology Monomial in x: expressions like w*5*x^2 Degree in x: 2, the exponent of x Coefficient of x^2: w*5 Polynomial in x: a sum of monomials in x, for example, a*x^2 + b*x + c Degree : 2 Coefficients of the polynomial a,b, and c

Maple words to work with polynomials poly := 4*x^2 + 3*x -2; degree(poly,x); returns 2, the degee of poly coeff(poly,x); returns 3, the coefficient of the x-term of poly op(poly); returns the three operands of poly, 4*x^2, 3*x, and -2.

More Maple words for working with polynomials Subs(x=w+t,poly); replaces x with w+t throughout subsop(2=w); replaces 2nd term with w expand(poly); removes parentheses factor(poly); tries to write as product divide(poly,factor); returns true if factor divides poly, false if not. rem(poly,factor,x); returns remainder.

Add to Assignment for 3/9/98 Work on the problems in the worksheet. Make some progress. Email your worksheet to me, unexecuted.