Calculus Explorations Using Mathematica

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Introduction

Calculus Explorations Using Mathematica is a Mathematica-based laboratory supplement for any calculus course. In addition to the printed version, the complete collection of labs and appendices are available in the form of Mathematica notebooks. These contain the Mathematica code which provides the functionality for many of the labs.

Key Features

• The focus of the labs is learning CALCULUS! Mathematica is used as the tool to accomplish that end.
• No prior knowledge of Mathematica is assumed. Commands are slowly introduced with many examples. Summaries are provided for each lab, as well as a cumulative summary.
• Graphical or visual images (and animations) are used to illustrate mathematical concepts whenever helpful.
• The labs follow the spirit and order of presentation in Calculus from Graphical, Numerical, and Symbolic Points of View by Arnold Ostebee and Paul Zorn, but the labs are independent of this text. There are no concepts or exercises which depend on this text. The collection of labs should be suitable for the first two semesters of any calculus course with most texts.
• The exercises in the labs occur in the stream of exploring the calculus concepts. The questions are designed to be thought provoking and not simply fill-in-the-template type.
• Students can answer the questions in the notebook and then submit the notebook electronically, but for those without networking facilities or not wishing to use this approach, the questions are designed to also be written up in a lab report.
• The text becomes an interactive text by using the electronic labs in the form of Mathematica notebooks.
• The labs are ready for version 2.2, 3.0, or 4.x, under Macintosh, Windows, NeXT and other platforms that support the notebook concept.
• An Instructor's Guide is available that contains notes and suggestions for each lab, as well key questions to assign. A Solutions notebook is also available. Contact me by e-mailing hibbarda@central.edu.
• Examination copies can be obtained by contacting Saunders College Publishing (now Harcourt College Publishing).

Information about it at the Mathematica Courseware site.

Further Information

There are a variety of approaches to learn more about Calculus Explorations using Mathematica (CEUM). Try one or more of the following.

• Look at the Table of Contents.
• Look at the Preface, which gives some additional introductory remarks.
• Get an overview of CEUM.
  • download the complete Mathematica 2.2 file (4.9 M)
  • download the complete Mathematica 2.2 file, compressed with Stuffit (855 K)
  • download the complete Mathematica 3.0 file (3.2 M)
  • download the complete Mathematica 3.0 file, compressed with Stuffit (605 K)
  • download the complete Acrobat PDF file (655 K) (requires Acrobat Reader)
  • view it as a web page
  • select which Mathematica 2.2 or 3.0 files or Acrobat files to download, one Lab at a time
• Download samples of some of the labs.
• Find out how to acquire the complete set of labs.
• Provide feedback in the form of comments, suggestions, or criticims by mailing a message.