Learning Guide Learning Guide

16 • Chapter 2: Mathematics with Maple: the Basics2.3 Basic Symbolic ComputationsMaple can work with mathematical unknowns, and expressions whichcontain them.> (1 + x)^2;(1 + x) 2> (1 + x) + (3 - 2*x);4 − xNote that Maple automatically simplifies the second expression.Maple has hundreds of commands for working with symbolic expressions.For a partial list, see Table 2.2.> expand((1 + x)^2);1 + 2 x + x 2> factor(%);(1 + x) 2As mentioned in section 2.2, the ditto operator, %, is a shorthandnotation for the previous result.> Diff(sin(x), x);ddx sin(x)> value(%);cos(x)> Sum(n^2, n);∑nn 2