Learning Guide Learning Guide

3 Finding SolutionsThis chapter introduces the key concepts needed for quick, concise problemsolving in Maple. By learning how to use such tools as solve, map,subs, and unapply, you can save yourself a substantial amount of work.In addition, this chapter examines how these commands interoperate.3.1 Simple solveMaple’s solve command is a general-purpose equation solver. It takes aset of one or more equations and attempts to solve them exactly for thespecified set of unknowns. (Recall from section 2.5 that you use braces todenote a set.) In the following examples, you are solving one equation forone unknown, so each set contains only one element.> solve({x^2=4}, {x});{x = 2}, {x = −2}> solve({a*x^2+b*x+c=0}, {x});{x = 1 2−b + √ b 2 − 4 a c}, {x = 1 a2−b − √ b 2 − 4 a c}aMaple returns each possible solution as a set. Since both of theseequations have two solutions, Maple returns a sequence of solution sets.If you do not specify any unknowns in the equation, Maple solves for allof them.> solve({x+y=0});43