Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 3/23/84; site cbosgd.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!hou3c!hocda!houxm!ihnp4!cbosgd!mark From: mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton) Newsgroups: net.math.symbolic.ctl Subject: cmsg newgroup net.math.symbolic Message-ID: <267@cbosgd.UUCP> Date: Tue, 4-Sep-84 22:41:07 EDT Article-I.D.: cbosgd.267 Posted: Tue Sep 4 22:41:07 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 6-Sep-84 05:11:38 EDT Control: newgroup net.math.symbolic Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus Lines: 192 Welcome to the new symbolic algebra newsgroup. This group will deal with all aspects of symbolic algebra: algorithms, applications and the various systems and languages available. This group will be useful to those: a) doing research in the area of symbolic algebra b) those who may need to apply symbolic algebra systems to some area c) systems personnel who must support symbolic algebra systems for their users. Prior to the formation of this group, this material was scattered over many news groups including net.unix, net.math, and net.ai. This news group will insure that those persons who are interested in symbolic algebra have to look in only one place for relevant articles. Also those persons requesting assistance from the net with symbolic algebra related issues can insure they reach those people who can help them with only one news group posting. Hopefully, the discussions of the group will help insure the successful application of symbolic algebra to applications areas. This article contains the following sections: a) a very short intro to symbolic algebra for those not aware of its purpose and capabilities b) a list of sources for more information (books, conferences and magazines. c) a list of symbolic algebra software Section a: Intro A conventional programming language offers the capability to manipulate numbers. For example, variables contain numbers which may multiplied, added, raised to power, etc. In a symbolic algebra system, variables contain formulas. For example, the variable A may contain the formula: B+C*X*Y and variable G may contain the formula X*Z. If one were to multiply A*G, one would get B*X*Z+C*X**2*Y*Z. The contents of a variable can be factored, differentiated, integrated or be subjected to a variety of such manipulations. Of course, not all features are available in all languages. Take integration for example. Using an appropriate numerical integration technique, one can set up the integral of sin(x) from 0 to pi and get a numerical result of 1.999 or something similar. A symbolic algebra system can be used to compute the antiderivative, e. g. -cos(x) for sin(x) or to compute the exact result: 2. In many cases, I have seen people perform very tedious algebra and calculus by hand who could have done the same work in a few minutes getting a correct answer via a symbolic algebra system. Most importantly, they would be insured that the answer they got was the correct one, free of any "stupid error." One of my hopes is that this group will insure that such people are alerted to the presence of this capability and use it! Section b: Information Sources The aim of this section is to give sources for more information such that this list plus the references cited therein will cover the area. B. Buchberger et. al editors Computer Algebra, Symbolic and Algebraic Computation Springer Verlag, Computing Supplementum 4 R. H. Rand Computer Algebra in Applied Mathematics: An Introduction to Macsyma Pitman Advanced Publishing Program Lecture Notes in Computer Science 144 Springer Verlag Proceedings of EUROCAM 82 European Computer Algebra Conference Marseille, France April 1982 Edited by Jacques Calmet Lecture Notes in Computer Science 162 Springer Verlag Procedings of EUROCAL 83 European Computer Algebra Conference London, England, March 1983 Lecture Notes in Computer Science 72 Springer Verlag Symbolic and Algebraic Computation Proceedings of EUROSAM 79 Marseille, France June 1979 Edited by Edward W. Ng SYMSAC 81 Proceedings of the 1981 ACM Symposium on Symbolic and Algebraic Computation Paul S. Wang, Editor ACM Order No. 505810 Proceedings of EUROSAM 74 SIGSAM Bulletin Volume 8 Number 3, August 1974 Issue Number 31 Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm, Sweden August 1-2 1974 SYMSAM 1966 ACM Symposium on Symbolic and Algebraic Manipulation, Washington D. C. March 29-31 Proceedings (Floyd, R. W., ed.) Commun. ACM 9, 547-643 (1966) SYMSAM 1971 ACM Symposium on Symbolic and Algebraic Manipulation, Los Angles March 23-25, 1971 Proceedings (Petrick, S. R. ED): published by ACM also in Commun. ACM 14, 509-560 and J. ACM 18, 477-565 (1971) MACSYMA 1977 MACSYMA User's Conference, bErkely, July 27-29, 1977. Proceedings (Fateman, R. J. Ed., ed) published by MIT MACSYMA 1979 MACSYMA Users' conference, Washington, D. C. June 20-22, 1979. Proceedings (Lewis, V. E. ed) published by MIT Yun, D. Y. Y., Stoutemeyer, D. R.: Symbolic Mathematical Computation. In: Encyclopedia of Computer Science and tEchnology Vol 15, 235-310 (1980) D. Knuth, The Art of Computer Progrramming, Volume 2 (Chapter 4) Section c: Partial List of Computer Algebra Software Formac Share Program Library 360D-03.3.013 Formac 73 This system runs under the IBM 360 series systems and is written in PL/1 and Assembler. Cost: $35.00 (as of November 1980). REDUCE Version 3 is available for DECSYSTEMs 10 and 20, IBM (but not under DOS), VAX. Requires $200.00 check Contact The Rand Corporation Attn: Dr. Anthony C. Hearn 1700 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90406 (213)-393-0411 For UNIX you also need to order PSL from Utah Symbolic Computation Group Secretary Computer Science Department 3160 MEB University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 for $200 (requires copy of UNIX license). MACSYMA is available for VMS systems from National Energy Software Center Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Avenue Argonne, Illinois 60439 Attention: Jan Mockler (According to GSB@MIT-MC, one needs to join the NESC and inquire about accession number 9847.) It is available for UNIX from: MACSYMA Group Symbolics, Inc. 257 Vassar Street Cambridge, MA 02139 There are a range of fees depending upon whether you have educational status or not and whether or not you want source. muMath (for Intel 8080, Z-80 and IBM-PC type machines) The Soft Warehouse, P. O. Box 11174, Honolulu, HI 96828 U. S. A. distributed by Microsoft as well. -------------------------- cut here ---------------------------------- Announcement for net.announce or whereever -------------------------- cut here ----------------------------------- A new newsgroup, net.math.symbolic has just been created. This group will deal with all aspects of symbolic algebra: algorithms, applications and the various systems and languages available. The group is for those: a) doing research in the area of symbolic algebra b) those who may need to apply symbolic algebra systems to an application area c) systems personnel who must support symbolic algebra systems for their users For those who are not familiar with the term, symbolic algebra, these systems allow a user to perform analytical differentiation, integration, factoring, simplification, etc. automatically with the computer. For example such a system would be able to integrate x**2+x**3 and give the result x**3/3+x**4/4. It will do automatically most if not all integrations that are done by hand in a calculus course. For more information see the welcome message which has more explanations as well as a bibliography and a list of available systems.