Software for mathematicians and physicists.

[yooniecorn]

I'm involved in an intense astrophysics course, and I'm looking for a more involved form of software (aside from Excel) that I can use to write down my practice questions, as well as to possibly check my work. Windows or Linux/Unix platforms are both acceptable.

I've heard mention of the LaTeX language, and ProTex, but am not sure about how intuitive it might be to learn in such short notice.

Any recommendations?

[Paul Komski]

The Tex software (http://www.ctan.org/what_is_tex.html) is for advanced typesetting rather than computation.

It's not clear if you just want to be able to layout formulae or to calculate the same. Excel is probably the best for the latter unless the algorithms are extremely complex but even Excel (or any other spreadsheet application) can be used to link cells and sheets to produce very complex outputs - using macros as an additional element if necessary and using customised functions to suit using VBA.

Calculus (http://www.google.ie/search?hl=en&q=calculus+software&btnG=Google+Search&meta=) would be a separate area but even it can be broached in Excel: eg http://math.la.asu.edu/~kawski/classes/mat272/EXCEL/EXCELskills.html or http://www.kean.edu/~rnarasim/excel/excel.html

Most of the time you can layout formulae by inserting the Object "Microsoft Equation" into a Word Doc or an Excel Spreadsheet, etc. I think that Macromedia may include such typesetting in pdf format but I have never gone there. MathType (http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathtype/default.htm) goes a few steps further than MS Equation.

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[yooniecorn]

Thank you for the information; I appreciate it.

[petey2020]

If your major is a form of mathematics, Wolfram Research Mathematica 6 is by far the most advanced student friendly program developed to educate and explore advanced mathematics. Most advanced mathematical software is developed for the educated.