A Computer Algebra System (CAS) such as MAPLE can be used to manipulate symbols. The graphical capability of a CAS can help students visualize expressions that are manipulated symbolically. A CAS can also be used to do numerical calculations. Simulation can be incorporated in a variety of applications.

Here are several examples that illustrate ways for using MAPLE for visualization, manipulation, and simulation.

Several of these examples come from probability and statistics. The statistics package that comes with MAPLE is not complete. However, Zaven Karian has written more than 130 additional procedures to support instruction in probability and statistics. These procedures are available at no cost and several will be incorporated into this talk.

To get started, click on the following command line to load the supplementary statistics package as well as some other procedures that will be used.

> restart: read `e:stat.m`: with(plots): randomize(): with(student):
read `e:ProbHistFill.txt`: read `e:EmpCDF.txt`:
read `e:HistogramFill.txt`: read `e:ProbHistB.txt`:
read `e:ProbHistFillY.txt`: read `e:ScatPlotCirc.txt`:
read `e:ScatPlotPoint.txt`: read `e:EmpCDF.txt`: read `e:BoxPlot.txt`:

Discrete Distribution Example

When Does "T" Really Have a T-Distribution

Volume of a ball of radius one in n-space.

Sums of Discrete Random Variables

Sums of Continuous Random Variables

Limits of Moment-Generating Functions

Acknowledgements