Maxima Tutorial/2016

Maxima Tutorial/2016

Mathemati al Modelling I
DSC1520

Semesters 1 and 2

Department of De ision S ien es

This tutorial letter ontains instru tions
for the mathemati al pa kage Maxima

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university
Learn without limits. of south africa
 Maxima/2016

Contents
1 Introdu tion 3
2 Installation 3
3 Using Maxima 3
3.1 Simple al ulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3.2 Spe ial hara ters and fun tions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.3 Symboli omputation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.3.1 Fun tions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.3.2 Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.3.3 Dierentiation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.3.4 Integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.4 Linear algebra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.4.1 Solving systems of linear equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.4.2 Matri es . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.5 Graphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.5.1 Graphing single fun tions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.5.2 Graphing multiple fun tions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.5.3 Three dimensional graphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

4 Solutions to a tivities 15
4.1 Paragraph 3.1 (Simple al ulations) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.2 Paragraph 3.3 (Simboli omputation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.3 Paragraph 3.3.1 (Fun tions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.4 Paragraph 3.3.2 (Limits) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.5 Paragraph 3.3.3 (Dierentiation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.6 Paragraph 3.3.4 (Integration) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.7 Paragraph 3.4.1 (Solving linear systems) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.8 Paragraph 3.4.2 (Matri es) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.9 Paragraph 3.5 (Graphs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

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1 Introdu tion
Maxima is a powerful mathemati al interfa e that one an use to easily nd answers to mathemati al prob-
lems. For this module, we suggest that you use it to visualise fun tions in order to larify ertain on epts
dis ussed in the study material.
You may also use it to he k your answers to assignment questions. It is, however, very important to work
these problems out with pen and paper before you solve them with Maxima, be ause you will not have
Maxima available in the examination.

2 Installation
You should have re eived a CD ontaining the software for Maxima with your study material for this module.
The version of Maxima on the CD might not be the most re ent, but the instru tions given in this tutorial
should be appli able to most versions.
If you want to rather use the most re ent version, you may download the most re ent version of Maxima
download from the Internet at the following website:
https://sour eforge.net/proje ts/maxima/les/.

Cli k on the link Download maxima-....exe to download the latest software. When it has nished down-
loading, double li k on maxima-5.....exe in your Downloads dire tory to install it. A ept all default
settings and li k Yes or Next at the prompts that appear.
When the installation has ompleted, open Maxima to nd the following (or similar) s reen:

This is the graphi user interfa e (GUI) for Maxima, alled wxMaxima. In this s reen you an enter om-
mands that Maxima will interpret and give answers to.

3 Using Maxima
In the newer versions of Maxima, one needs to use Shift-Enter or Ctrl-Enter to obtain the result of an entered
ommand.
There are a few important symbols that have spe i meaning in Maxima, namely

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• The semi olon (;)

Commands for whi h you want output to be provided dire tly, must end with a semi olon. If the
semi olon is omitted, Maxima will omplete the ommand by inserting a semi olon when Shift-Enter
is pressed.
• The dollar sign ($)
If no output is required, but a formula or number is entered or assigned for future use, it must end with
a $. If the $ is omitted, Maxima will on e again insert a semi olon and give the formula as output.
• The per entage sign (%)
This symbol refers to the most re ent entered or al ulated result.

The use of these symbols will be ome lear when we illustrate some examples in the following se tions.

3.1 Simple al ulations

We start with simple al ulations, like addition, subtra tion, multipli ation and division. To enter a om-
mand, one simply starts typing in the Maxima s reen. To nd an answer to 3 + 2, type it in the s reen and
press Shift-Enter to get the output. Your s reen will look as follows:

It is lear that the input is labelled %i1 and the output %o1. These labels an be used in future al ulations.
For instan e, if you want to subtra t this output from 20, the ommand will be either 20 − % (the last
al ulated result) or 20−%o1, using the label. (Be areful not to type a zero in stead of an o.)

The operators that we use for multipli ation and division are * and /, respe tively, and to raise a value to a
power, we use . In the following part of the s reen, we show ommands using su h operators.

To assign some value to a variable, we use the olon (:). For example, the input a:2 assigns 2 to the variable
a, that is a = 2. In the following part of the s reen, we show the in and outputs for a = 2, b = 5 and 2a + b:

Note that Maxima will not a ept 2a + b if it is entered as 2a+b. An asterisk must always be used for
multipli ation. For example, an expression like (a+b)(2a−1) must be entered as (a+b)*(2*a-1) in Maxima.

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A tivity
1. Enter the following Maxima ommands and make sure you understand the logi :

2. If x = 4 and y = 3, evaluate x2 + 2xy + 3y 2 .

3.2 Spe ial hara ters and fun tions

In Maxima, mathemati al symbols and fun tions like π , e, ln, √ , sin, , et . need to be spe ied in a
R

ertain way to get the orre t output. In the following table some of these are shown:

Mathemati al Maxima
symbol/fun tion input
π %pi
ln(2) log(2)
e %e
e2 (%e)2
exp(2)
√
2 sqrt(2)
sqrt(2.0)
d
(...) diff(...)
dx
integrate(...)
R
(...)
√
To nd the numeri al value of π , e, 4, et . use the float ommand, or enter the value as a de imal. For
instan e, float(%pi), float(%e), float(sqrt(4)) or sqrt(4.0), et .

A tivity
Enter the following Maxima ommands and he k that your outputs are the same as ours. Also make sure
you understand the logi .

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3.3 Symboli omputation

Maxima an handle all kinds of mathemati al omputation, like simpli ation, fa torisation, dierentiation,
integration, et . For example, enter the expression (x + 1)(5x2 − 12) + x + 1. (Remember the asterisk (*)
for multipli ation.)
In the menu bar at the top of the s reen, under Simplify li k Simplify Expression to simplify it, then Fa tor
Expression to fa torise it and then Expand Expression to expand it. To solve this expression go to Equations
and li k Solve. (Note that Maxima sets an expression equal to zero when solving it.)
The following shows the output for these a tions:

Note that all these a tions were performed on the same fun tion. Here, %o15 gives %o14 simplied; %o16
gives %o15 fa tored, et . We ould therefore simply sele t the a tions and a ept the % for the last expression
entered or al ulated.

A tivity
1. Simplify the following expressions:
5x5
(a)
3x3
(b) 2(3 + x) + x(1 − 4x) + 5

2. Fa torise the following expressions:

(a) x2 − 5x + 6
(b) 4x2 − 9

3. Solve the following expressions:

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x2 − 6x + 2
(a) (Remember that Maxima sets su h expressions equal to zero when solved.)
x−3
(b) 2x + 3(x − 3) = 6

3.3.1 Fun tions

Fun tions an be dened in Maxima and manipulated in many ways. Examples of working with fun tions
are the following:

Composite fun tions (a fun tion of a fun tion) denoted by (f ◦ g)(x) or (g ◦ f )(x) an also be omputed, as
an be seen in the following example:

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A tivity
1
Enter the fun tions f (x) = and g(x) = x2 + 1 into Maxima and nd
x

(a) f (6) (in de imal form)

(b) g(10)

( ) (f ◦g)(x) and (f ◦g)(1)

(d) (g◦f )(x) and (g◦f )(3) (in both fra tional and de imal forms)

3.3.2 Limits
To nd the limit of a fun tion in a ertain point, go to Cal ulus on the menu bar and sele t Find Limit.
x
To nd the limit lim 4 − , we enter the fun tion and the point in whi h we need to nd the limit in the
x→4 2
Limit window. Note that limits are by default al ulated from both sides, unless spe ied otherwise.

The ommand line input and subsequent output are the following:

A tivity
Find the following limits:

x−9
(a) lim √
x→9 x−3
2x − 1
(b) lim
x→∞ x+1

3.3.3 Dierentiation
To dierentiate an expression like 5x3 + 4 sin x, go to Cal ulus in the menu bar and sele t Dierentiate. A
window opens where one an enter the expression or fun tion to be dierentiated. The ommand line input
is %i1 and the output is %o1 in the following example.

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An existing expression, like %i2 an be dierentiated by simply sele ting Dierentiate. The window will
ontain % and the last entered expression (%i2) will be dierentiated (%o3).
Finally, one an highlight an existing expression, su h as %i2, and then sele t Dierentiate to have it
dierentiated.

A tivity
Dierentiate ea h of the following fun tions:

(a) f (x) = 2x3 − x2 + 3x

(b) g(x) = 5 + sin x

2
( ) hj(x) = (x2 − 1) 3

3.3.4 Integration
The same pro edures as for dierentiation an be followed for integration. Under Cal ulus sele t Integrate.
On e again the last entered expression (%o3 of the previous example) will be integrated if you leave it as it
omes up, giving %o5.
An expression an also be integrated by entering it in the Integrate window or highlighting an existing
expression and then sele ting Integrate.

A tivity
Find the following integrals:

x+9
Z
(a) dx
x2
Z
(b) ln e2x−1 dx

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1
1
Z
( ) dx
0 4 − x2

3.4 Linear algebra

3.4.1 Solving systems of linear equations
If you have a system of simultaneous equations that needs so be solved, go to Equations on the menu bar
and sele t Solve Linear System. A window requesting the number of equations will appear. After you have
spe ied this, another window will appear where one an enter the equations. These windows are as follows:

The ommand line input and resulting output for these equations are as follows:

A tivity
Solve ea h of the following systems of linear equations:

(a) 3x + 4y = 10 and x = 3 − y
x− y+ z = 10
(b) 3x + y + 2z = 34
−5x + 2y − z = −14

3.4.2 Matri es
To enter a matrix in Maxima, go to Algebra on the menu bar and sele t Enter Matrix. A window opens
where the dimensions of the matrix an be spe ied and the matrix an be named.
" # When you li k OK the
1 2
values an be entered. For example if we want to enter the 2 × 2 matrix a = , these windows will be
3 5
as follows:

The ommand line input and resulting matrix are as follows:

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If we now need to nd the determinant, the transpose and the inverse of this matrix, we simply sele t
Determinant, Transpose and Invert Matrix from Cal ulus to get the following outputs:

Note that after you have found the determinant, the % in the Transpose and Invert Matrix windows will no
longer represent the original matrix (it represents the last in or output). So, to ensure you use the original
matrix, highlight it before you sele t Transpose or Invert Matrix.
" #
−1 3
Now enter the matrix b = in the same way as we did for a, so we an add or multiply them.
1 2

At the left, matri es a and b are entered. At the right we see that addition works perfe tly, but a ∗ b simply
multiplies ea h element in a with the orresponding element in b. It is therefore important to remember that
to nd the orre t answer for a × b, one must enter a.b.

A tivity
Find the transpose, determinant and inverse of the following matrix:
 
1 2 −1
 5 3 4
 

−2 0 1

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3.5 Graphs
3.5.1 Graphing single fun tions
To draw the graph of a fun tion, li k Plot on the menu bar and sele t Plot 2d. In the window that opens,
insert the fun tion to be graphed, in this ase f (x) = x2 + 2x − 5, and li k OK.

The ommand line input and the resulting output graph of the fun tion are as follows:

[Note that su h a graph an be opied or saved to be in luded in a do ument by right- li king on it and
sele ting Copy or Save Image.℄

3.5.2 Graphing multiple fun tions

To graph more than one fun tion simultaneously, on an enter them one after the other in the Plot 2D
window, separated by ommas. In the following example we show how to graph sin(x) and cos(x) on the
same graph. Note that we have adjusted the x interval shown in the graph to (−10; 10).

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The ommand line input and the resulting output graph of sin(x) and cos(x) are as follows:

Another way to graph multiple fun tions is to dene the fun tions (f and g) rst and then simply enter them
as f,g in the Plot 2D window. For example, the graph of the fun tions f (x) = x+1 and g(x) = ex is as follows:

3.5.3 Three dimensional graphs

Maxima also has the option to draw three dimensional graphs of fun tions. To draw the graph of
f (x, y) = x2 − y 2 , sele t Plot 3d and enter the fun tion in the Plot 3D window.

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This results in the following ommand line input and output graph:

A tivity
1. Sket h the graph of ea h of the following fun tions and nd the domain and range of ea h:

(a) f (x) = 4 − x
√
(b) g(x) = x − 1
( ) h(x) = 2 sin πx
sin x2
(d) j(x) = x
1
(e) f (x) = (Does limx→1 f (x) exist?)
x−1
1
2. Consider the fun tions f (x) = and g(x) = x2 + 1.
x
(a) Sket h the graphs of f and g.
(b) Find the domain and range of (f ◦g)(x).

3. Determine graphi ally whether ea h of the following fun tions is even or odd. Justify your answers.

(a) f (x) = x3 − 3x2

√
(b) f (x) = x2 + 4

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4 Solutions to a tivities
4.1 Paragraph 3.1 (Simple al ulations)
2. The in and outputs are as follows:

4.2 Paragraph 3.3 (Simboli omputation)

1. Simplifying

2. Fa torising

3. Solving

4.3 Paragraph 3.3.1 (Fun tions)

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4.4 Paragraph 3.3.2 (Limits)

4.5 Paragraph 3.3.3 (Dierentiation)

4.6 Paragraph 3.3.4 (Integration)

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4.7 Paragraph 3.4.1 (Solving linear systems)

4.8 Paragraph 3.4.2 (Matri es)

4.9 Paragraph 3.5 (Graphs)

1. Graphing and nding the domain and range.

(a) The domain and range of f (x) = 4 − x both are R.

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√
(b) The domain of g(x) = x − 1 is (1; ∞) and the range is (0; ∞).

( ) The domain of h(x) = 2 sin(πx) is R and the range is [−2; 2].

sin(x2 )
(d) The domain of j(x) = is R and the range is [−0, 84; 0, 84].
x

1
(e) The domain of f (x) = is R\{1} and the range is R\{0}. The limit limx→1 f (x) does not
x−1
exist.

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1
2. We onsider the fun tions f (x) = and g(x) = x2 + 1.
x
(a) The graphs of f and g are the following:

(b) The domain of f ◦g is R and and range is (0; 1]. This an be seen in the following graph:

3. To nd graphi ally whether fun tions are even or odd, we draw the graphs.

(a) The fun tion f (x) = x3 − 3x2 is neither even nor odd sin e its graph is neither symmetri al around
the y axis, nor is it ree ted rst around the y axis and then around the negative x axis.

√
(b) The graph of f (x) = x2 + 4 is symmetri al around the y axis, therefore we an say it is an even
fun tion.

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