Main presenter
Co-presenter(s)
Name :
Dr Robert Decker
Name:
E-mail:
rdecker@hartford.edu
E-mail:
Institution or
Company:
University of Hartford
Name:
Department:
Mathematics
E-mail:
City:
West Hartford
Name:
State/Province:
CT
E-mail:
Country:
USA
Name:
Type of
presentation:
Lecture : 50 minutes.
E-mail:
Conference
strand and number:
ACDCA ,
Number:
A35
Schedule:
Room:
Friday, 10h30
1340
Related website:
Title of
presentation:
Adding an Interactive Component to Computer Algebra in Differential Equations
Abstract:
The need to add an interactive/dynamic component to computer algebra systems such as Maple, Derive or Mathematica is just beginning to be addressed. For example, Maple now has an Interactive ODE Analyzer, which provides a minimal graphical user interface (GUI) for working with differential equations. I will demonstrate some (platform independent) interactive programs that I have developed for investigating first and second order differential equations. With these programs one can dynamically change parameters, initial conditions, window settings, step size, etc., and see the results immediately in muliple views (phase or time plots). The results can then be imported into Maple for further refinement there, and for report writing. Algebraic results from Maple can also be exported back for further interactive graphical manipulation. Thus, for example, the exact solution to an ODE that has one or more parameters can be graphed and manipulated, and compared to numerical approximations. In addition I will demonstrate how you can create your own customized GUI using tools that I have developed. I will conclude the talk with some projects that I have used in differential equations courses that demonstrate how students benefit from the synergy created by combining dynamic software and computer algebra.