Your First Mathematica Calculations

Type the input 9.7^200 and press .

Here is the result.

Here is an example from algebra. The first bracket after the function name Factor is a special color until the closing bracket is typed.

Some Mathematica conventions

Built-in functions are capitalized. Arguments to functions are wrapped with square brackets.

Sin[x]

Each of these represents multiplication:

a*b a b a(b+1)

2x means 2*x.

These are standard arithmetic operations:

2+3

2-3

2/3

2^3

Uppercase and lowercase letters are recognized as different. Lists are wrapped with curly brackets.

{a, b, B}

Built-in symbols are capitalized. Commas are used to separate arguments. A semicolon prevents output, but the command is still evaluated.

N[Pi, 50];

Variables are usually lowercase. Entire words can be used.

x = 5

xvalue = 3

Integrate is just one of over a thousand built-in Mathematica functions.

Plot3D produces a three-dimensional plot.

Graphics appear directly in your notebook.