Introduction to Mathematica

One of the tools that I have used since version 2 is Mathematica. I even have a Mathematica t-shirt. If you haven’t heard of it before, it is software for doing mathematics, hence the name. But this is so much more than a jumped up calculator. Among the features it sports are:

• Visualisation – draw graphs and plots
• Symbolic mathematics – algebra, integration, differentiation
• Functional programming
• Arbitrary numerical precision in calculations.

It uses a notebook format to express results so the mathematics can be performed from the output of another. However you can also use it like a programming language to define functions and routines. I used to use it for modelling gain in semiconductor lasers and calculating band structure.

It is now in version 7.0 and it has included many more features. Now I have moved into SEO I use it for analysing data and research. One of the great features is the ability to draw graphs and analyse networks.