Multivariable Calculus and Mathematica: With Applications to Geometry and Physics

Aiming to "modernise" the course through the integration of Mathematica, this publication introduces students to its multivariable uses, instructs them on its use as a tool in simplifying calculations, and presents introductions to geometry, mathematical physics, and kinematics. The authors make it clear that Mathematica is not algorithms, but at the same time, they clearly see the ways in which Mathematica can make things cleaner, clearer and simpler. The sets of problems give students an opportunity to practice their newly learned skills, covering simple calculations, simple plots, a review of one-variable calculus using Mathematica for symbolic differentiation, integration and numerical integration, and also cover the practice of incorporating text and headings into a Mathematica notebook. The accompanying diskette contains both Mathematica 2.2 and 3.0 version notebooks, as well as sample examination problems for students, which can be used with any standard multivariable calculus textbook. It is assumed that students will also have access to an introductory primer for Mathematica.