Steps

Result

Getting an answer to display inline using [Alt][Enter]

In the examples so far, we obtained a result by pressing [Enter].

You can also get Maple to return the result inline by typing [Alt][Enter] (hold down the Alt key, then press Enter).

Example: Type "1+2" then press [Alt][Enter].

$1\+2$ = $3$$$

Entering text

To enter text, use [Ctrl][T] or [F5] to switch to Text entry mode.

You can intersperse explanatory text on lines in between your math computations.  You will also want to be able to insert math into a text paragraph, which is covered next.

This is a simple Maple statement:

$1\+2$ = $3$$$

Combining text and math

Example:

1. Toggle to Text entry using [F5].  Type "Solve the equation: "

2. Toggle to Math entry using [F5].  Enter the desired equation.

By default, the math you entered in this sentence is nonexecutable math. In the next example, we combine text and math in one line, evaluating and displaying output.

Solve the equation: $x^2\+3 x\+2\=0$

Combining text and math, and executing it

Example:

1. On a new line, toggle to Text entry using [F5].  Type "We solve the equation for x"

2. Press [F5] twice to toggle to executable math.  Enter the desired equation.

3. Press [Alt][Enter].

The shortcut key [F5] is a three-way toggle between text, nonexecutable math, and executable math.  When you are in text mode and want to enter math that is

 We solve the equation for x: $\mathrm{solve}\left( x^2+3x+2\=0\,x\right)$ = $\mathrm{-1},\mathrm{-2}$

Recalculating

Modify some of the terms in the problem, highlight the entire sentence, and press the  button to re-execute the computation.

We solve the equation for x: $\mathrm{solve}\left(x^2+8x\+8\=0\,x\right)$ = $-4+2\sqrt{2},-4-2\sqrt{2}$ 

Text mode

Nonexecutable math mode

Math mode

This is text.

Steps        

Result

Defining Equations

To represent an equation in Maple, use the = sign for equality.

Example: Solve the equation $a\cdot x^2\+b\cdot x\+c\=0$ for $x$ using the Context Panel option Solve>Solve for Variable>x.

$a\cdot x^2+b\cdot x+c\=0$$\stackrel{\text{solve for x}}{\to }$$\left[\left[x\=\frac{1}{2}\frac{-b\+\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{a}\right]\,\left[x\=-\frac{1}{2}\frac{b\+\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{a}\right]\right]$$$

Solving for Exact Solutions

By default, Maple uses symbolic methods to find the exact solution.  

Example: Solve the equation $2\cdot x^2+6\cdot x-3\=0$  for $x$ using Solve>Solve in the Context Panel.

$2\cdot x^2+6\cdot x-3\=0$$\stackrel{\text{solve}}{\to }$$\left\{x\=-\frac{3}{2}\+\frac{1}{2}\sqrt{15}\right\}\,\left\{x\=-\frac{3}{2}-\frac{1}{2}\sqrt{15}\right\}$

Solving for Numeric Solutions

If you desire a numeric solution, you must specify it directly.

Example: Using the example above, solve the equation using the Context Panel, this time select Solve>Numerically Solve.

$2\cdot x^2+6\cdot x-3\=0$$\stackrel{\text{solve}}{\to }$$-3.436491673\,0.4364916731$

Solving with Maple Commands

Note that the equivalent Maple commands are solve and fsolve (floating-point solve).

To solve a system of equations, enclose them in a list or set.  

Tip: Use this notation to include inequalities such as $t\>0$ or $t\ne 0$.

$\mathrm{solve}\left(2\cdot x^2+6\cdot x-3\=0\,x\right)$

$\mathrm{fsolve}\left(2\cdot x^2+6\cdot x-3\,x\right)$

$\mathrm{solve}\left(\left\{t^2{y}^2\=0\,t-y\=1\,t\ne 0\right\}\right)$

Assigning Equations to Variables

You can assign equations to names.  Remember to use := (colon equals) for assignments.  

Example:  Assign the equation "$y\=\mathrm{mx}+b$" to the variable name "eqn".  Then apply the command rhs to your variable name.

You can use the solve command to solve the equation for $x$.

$\mathrm{eqn}≔ y\=m\cdot x\+b\:$

$\mathrm{rhs}\left(\mathrm{eqn}\right)$

$\mathrm{solve}\left(\mathrm{eqn}\,x\right)$

Steps

Result

Expressions

$h$is an expression in $x$ defined to the right. Warning:  $h$ is not a function!  

Example: See the example on the right for what happens when you try to evaluate $h\left(0\right)$ as if it were a function.

In fact, you have not defined a function.  You have assigned the expression $\sin \left(x\right)$ to the name $h$.

Example: To find the value of an expression at a given value of $x$,  you need to evaluate the expression at that point. You can do this with
a) the Context Panel,
b) the eval command,

c) or the evaluate symbol  found in the Expression palette.

$h≔ \sin \left(x\right)\:$

$h\left(0\right)$

$h$ = $\sin \left(x\right)$$\stackrel{\text{evaluate at point}}{\to }$$0$$$

$\mathrm{eval}\left(h\, x\=0\right)$$$

$\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{h}{\phantom{x\=a}}|\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\phantom{\mathrm{f(x)}}}{x\=0}$

Functions$$Mathematical functions in Maple are represented as operators.  The operator notation is represented by an arrow.$F$is a function in $x$defined to the right.

Example:

To define this function, you can use the palettes.  From the Expression palette, choose $f:=a\to y$.    Type F, then press [Tab].  Type x.  Press [Tab].  Type x^2.  Press [Enter] to evaluate this line, thus making the function definition.

To find the value of $F$ at a particular value, call the function $F$ with an argument.

Example: Try to evaluate F at 3 and F at y.

Alternate notation: Using natural math notation

Maple also provides a way to define a function using natural mathematical notation.  To do this, you enter an expression of the form "f(y)=expr" and then convert it into a Maple function.

Example:

Define a function $C\left(y\right)\=\sqrt[3]{y}$.  To begin, type this equation.  (You can find the nth root symbol in the Expression palette.)  From the Context Panel for the equation, choose Assign Function.

Note:  Using the arrow operator to define a function is strongly recommended.

$F:=x\to x^2\:$

$F≔x\to x^2$

$F\left(3\right)$

$F\left(y\right)$

$C\left(y\right)\=\sqrt[3]{y}$$\stackrel{\text{assign as function}}{\to }$$C$$$

$C\left(y\right)$

$C\left(0.04\right)$

Typing the arrow operator

You can type a function definition directly.  To create the arrow,  type the dash key followed by the greater than key: "->".

Example:    

Define $g\left(\mathrm{\θ}\right)\=\sin \left(3\cdot \mathrm{\theta }\right)\.$

Tip: Ending any expression with a colon (:) suppresses the output.  

$g≔\mathrm{\θ}\to \sin \left(3\cdot \mathrm{\θ}\right)\:$

$g\left(\frac{\mathrm{\π}}{9}\right)$

Multi-Parameter Functions

$G$ is a two parameter function defined to the right.  

You can evaluate G at specified points.

Example: Try evaluating G at (1,2) and at (1, y).

Note: This can be extended for use with multi-parameter functions.

$G:=\left(a\,b\right)\to a^2-b^3\:$

$G\left(1\,2\right)$ = $-7$ 

$G\left(1\,y\right)$ = $1-y^3$$$

Procedures

A function is a special form of the more general procedure.  

Example:  See the example on the right for a very basic procedure.  

Procedures can include conditional statements, iteration, type checking, local variables, error-handling, and other features of standard programming languages.  For an introduction to Maple programming, see the Basic Programming chapter of the User Manual.

Tip: Use [Shift][Enter] to continue a command on the next line.

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{procG}≔\mathbf{proc}\left(a\,b\right) \\ {a}^2+b^2 \\ \mathbf{end}\mathbf{proc}\: \end{gathered}$$

$\mathrm{procG}\left(1\,2\right)$ = $5$$$

Maple Syntax and 2-D Math

The examples in these tutorials are done using standard 2-D math notation, where fractions and exponents are entered and displayed as they would be written on paper. Some people prefer to enter commands using 1-D Maple syntax, especially when writing procedures.

Several options are available for those who wish to use Maple syntax. The Code Edit Region, which can be embedded directly into a standard Maple document, provides an editor for easy entry of code written in Maple syntax.  

For those who wish to do all interactive work in Maple Syntax, use worksheet mode with the input display set to Maple Notation.

$\frac{x^2}{\sqrt{y}}$