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From: Don_Porter@mts.rpi.edu
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Use of Mathematica or Maple in education
Message-ID: <9l_lh_h@rpi.edu>
Date: 18 Jun 91 17:47:46 GMT
References: <1991Jun15.184943.5156@garfield.ncat.edu>
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Lines: 23
Nntp-Posting-Host: shinobu.its.rpi.edu

In article <1991Jun15.184943.5156@garfield.ncat.edu> kerm@garfield.ncat.edu
(Cary Burnette) writes:
>Hello:
>
>I would like to get some information on computer based math packages;
>such as Mathematica or Maple. I would like to know how people like
>them in a college environment, specifically an Engineering environment.
>
>I would like to really like to hear from people who have used both
>packages and can make a comparison.
> ........

At RPI, we have been using various versions of Maple for several years. The
major
emphasis has been in Calculus instruction thus far. We are now in the process
of expanding this pilot program to cover the entire incoming freshman class
(~1000). The use of Maple is also spreading from Calculus to other math
courses, to physics and chemistry, and perhaps to engineering. We are generally
satisfied with Maple; we use version V on Sun and IBM RS6000 workstations.

There are a number of researchers on campus who do use Mathematica. The math
department selected Maple over Mathematica for a variety of reasons, including
correctness of results, performance, and price.