Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Open Source Math Software For Education?

Posted by timothy on from the wading-through-it dept.

Rui Carmo writes "Now here's something you don't get asked every day, but which a friend happens to need for her kids: If you had to suggest Open-Source software for mathematics - somewhere from high-school to freshman level, and not merely for 'pure' mathematics, but also applicable to physics and statistics (the kids are considering going into Applied Maths and Engineering), what would you point people toward, assuming they have access to both Linux and Windows? I know this is a niche thing and that there is nothing out there that even comes close to Wolfram's excellent Mathematica (which I used on my old NeXTCube), but surely something along the lines of (or simpler than) Calculation Center exists?" The Knoppix-based Quantian might be a good place to start; what math software do you recommend?

25 of 605 comments (clear)

  1. Octave? by mvdw · · Score: 5, Informative

    What about octave (free Matlab clone)?

    1. Re:Octave? by hotchai · · Score: 5, Informative

      Octave is a really nice piece of software! Also check out Scilab.

    2. Re:Octave? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      Here's a link:

      http://www.octave.org/

      I've used Matlab extensively and can tell you that Octave and Matlab aren't perfectly compatible. However, a student who learns Octave can switch to Matlab without any effort whatsoever.

    3. Re:Octave? by rjstanford · · Score: 4, Funny

      Call that a link?

      Octave

      That, my friend, is a link.

      --
      You're special forces then? That's great! I just love your olympics!
    4. Re:Octave? by beefstu01 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Educational versoin is around $150/yr which includes the symbolic toolbox. That, I must say, is a darn good deal for MATLAB, considering it does a whole helluva lot. Everything that a high schooler would ever need to do, and a lot more. If you want math software, shell out the $150 (less than the cost of a textbook) and get Matlab, it's the best math software possible

      That being said, the best software for math is no software at all. Paper and pencil, that's it. Over at my college, all engineers are required to go through four semesters of math (2 calc, diff eq. and linear algebra), and no calculators or tech tools are allowed for either course. And yes, we did need to plot slope fields, draw 3d representations of functions, etc... It's more important to know the concept of doing a problem than crunching numbers. The only time I use MATLAB is when I'm working on my design project-- I do the design, I setup the equations, MATLAB crunches the numbers for me.

      Remember, number crunching != real math. Theory is the most important thing to learn.

    5. Re:Octave? by Safety+Cap · · Score: 4, Funny

      Maybe he doesn't know how to write HTML. Most people don't.

      --
      Yeah, right.
    6. Re:Octave? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative
      Oh, geez, does no one understand the difference between a symbolic mathematics package (like Mathematica, Maple, or Calculation Center) and a numerical mathematics package (like Octave and Matlab)?

      The guy's looking for a symbolic mathematics package. Why don't you recommend Excel for him why you're at it? Heavens.

    7. Re:Octave? by gilroy · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Blockquoth the poster:

      I've never been allowed to use a calculator and I'm much better off for it.

      How do you know you're better off for it? Maybe, if calculators had been allowed, you'd've been able to get to deeper concepts faster. Maybe you'd have been able to play with function and form and plots, and discovered chaos.

      'Course, maybe not. But it seems to me that a blanket statement like yours is essentially unsupportable, and generally counterproductive. There's room for pen-and-paper, or even just brain work, but IMHO, there's room for integrators and plotters.

      Put another way: When I took math in grade school, I had a teacher who also didn't believe in "high tech" -- like the pencil. We did everything in ink. Her theory was, if it was in ink, you couldn't correct a mistake -- so you wouldn't make any. It was an insane educational theory, of course, and bore no relation to what actually occured.
      --
      The Mongrel Dogs Who Teach
    8. Re:Octave? by Anonymous+Custard · · Score: 4, Funny

      You call that a link? THIS is a link:

      http://www.hugeurl.com/?ODg1M2YwMDM0NzNjMDgyNmJlM2 VkYWVkYWYwZTUxMzMmMTImVm0wd2QyUXlVWGxXYTJoV1YwZG9W Vll3Wkc5alJsWjBUVlpPV0Zac2JETlhhMUpUVmpGYWMySkVUbG hoTWsweFZqQmFTMk15U2tWVWJHaG9UVmhDVVZadGVGWmxSbGw1 Vkd0c2FsSnRhRzlVVjNOM1pVWmFkR05GZEZSTlZUVkpWbTEwYT FkSFNrZGpTRUpYVFVad1NGUlVSbUZqVmtaMFVteFNUbUY2UlRG V1ZFb3dWakZhV0ZOcmJGSmlSMmhZV1d4b2IwMHhXbGRYYlVacl VsUkdXbGt3WkRSVk1rcElaSHBHVjJFeVVYZFpWRVpyVTBaT2Ns cEhjRlJTVlhCWlZrWldhMVV5VW5OalJtUllZbFZhY1ZscldtRm xWbVJ5VjI1a1YwMUVSa1pWYkZKRFZqQXhkVlZ1V2xaaGExcFlX a1ZhVDJOdFNrZFRiV3hYVWpOb1dGWnRNSGRsUjBsNFUydGthVk 5GV2xSWmJHaFRWMVpXY1ZKcmRGUldiRm93V2xWb2ExWXdNVVZT YTFwWFlrZG9jbFpxU2tabFZsWlpXa1prYUdFeGNGaFhiRnBoVk RKT2RGSnJhR2hTYXpWeldXeG9iMWRHV25STlNHaFBVbTE0VjFS VmFHOVhSMHBJVld4c1dtSkhhRlJXTUZwVFZqRmtkRkp0ZUZkaW EwcElWbXBKZUUxR1dsaFRhMlJxVWtWYVYxWnFUbTlsYkZweFUy dGthbUpWVmpaWlZWcGhZVWRGZUdOSE9WZFdSVXBvVmtSS1QyUk dTbkpoUjJoVFlYcFdkMVp0Y0V0aU1XUlhWMWhvWVZKRlNtRldi WE40VGtaa2NsWnRkRmhTTUhCNVZHeGFjMWR0U2toaFJsSlhUVV p3VkZacVJtdGtWbkJHVGxaT2FXRXdjRWxXYlhCS1pVWkplRmRz YUZSaVJuQnhWV3hrVTFsV1VsWlhiVVpzWWtad2VGVXlkR3RoYl VwV1lucEtWbFl6YUROWmEyUkdaVWRPU0dGR2FHbFNia0p2Vm10 U1MxUnRWbGRUYmtwb1VqTm9WRmxZY0ZkWFZscFlZMFU1YVUxWF VraFdNalZUVkd4YVIxTnRPVlZXTTFKNlZHdGFWbVZYVWtoa1Jt UnBWbGhDU2xac1pEUmpNV1IwVWxob2FsSkZOV0ZhVjNSaFlVWn JlRmRyZEd0U2EzQjZWbGQ0VDJGV1RrWlRhM1JYVFc1b1dGZFdX bEpsUm1SellVWlNhRTFzU25oV1Z6QjRUa1phYzFWc1pGaGhNMU p2VlcxNGQyVkdWblJOVldSWFRVUkdlVlJzVm05V01VbzJVbXRv VjFaRldreFdha3BQVW14YWMxcEhiRk5OVlZZelZteGFVMUl4Yk ZkWGJrcE9WbXh3V0ZsWWNGZFdSbFp5Vm10YVQxVlVNRGs9

      --
      $8.95/mo web hosting
    9. Re:Octave? by altstadt · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Every time a discussion of math packages comes up, Octave is always mentioned right away, but Euler gets ignored. I'm curious why people seem to prefer Octave over Euler so much that Euler is virtually unknown.

  2. R (GNU S) by Neil+Blender · · Score: 5, Informative

    R statistical language

  3. GraphCalc is good by theteenager · · Score: 5, Informative

    GraphCalc is a good graphing program. It might not do everything in math, but it graphs pretty nicely.

  4. Math Software? by jtbauki · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The whole technology upgrade the schools have been getting doesn't seem to be making learning more efficient. It seems like a big waste of money.

    If a kid doesn't spend time studying his books, why would he start studying his software?

  5. Why software? by Hatta · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There were no computers in my middle/high school math classes and I learned math just fine. What is your friend trying to do that couldn't be done better with pen and paper and old fashioned teaching? Computers aren't a panacea.

    --
    Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    1. Re:Why software? by upsidedown_duck · · Score: 4, Insightful

      But, those shiny colors can motivate them.

      In the worst way. "Hey, those fractals look pretty cool, I think I'll sign up for this advanced fractals course." --semester begins-- "Holy flying fluke, Batman, where did these equations come from?!?" --drops class, ends with less motivation than before--

      --
      -- "Makes Little Debbie look like a pile of puke!" - Moe Szyslak
  6. bc by bbh · · Score: 4, Funny

    bc

  7. For a high school freshman . . . by kfg · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I wouldn't recommend software at all. I would recommend something we call "pencil and paper." Learning mathematics (and reading music, and a number of other such undertakings) is as much a mechanical skill as an intellectual one and the quickest way to the brain is through the fingers.

    Come back when they're in college and ask again.

    KFG

  8. You want Maxima by cabraverde · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Maxima:

    It's the closest thing I know of to an OSS Mathematica. It is to Mathematica what The Gimp is to Photoshop. Namely, it's a fair way behind the front runner but still very usable.

  9. OT: Learn the math, then use the tools by davidwr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I know this is a bit off-topic, but it can't be overemphasized:

    If possible, students should learn the principles behind the math before they are allowed to use fancy tools like calculators and computers.

    My high school teacher made us learn logarithms and trigonometry using a pencil, graph paper, and tables, THEN we got to use a calculator. As for calculus, we did all our graphs by hand, sub-$200 graphing calculators weren't available back then.

    I hope you get some good answers in this thread.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  10. For statisticians... by Gentlewhisper · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There is R
    R Project

    --
    Online backup with Mozy, sounds like Ozzie, but more!
  11. I've always loved this quote by MerlynEmrys67 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I know this is a niche thing and that there is nothing out there that even comes close to Insert excellent software that does just what you want , but surely something along the lines of (or simpler than) Insert Open source project here
    So, what is wrong with people doing a good job and creating value, getting a little bit of that value back so they can pay rent ?

    Just wondering

    --
    I have mod points and I am not afraid to use them
    1. Re:I've always loved this quote by dougmc · · Score: 4, Insightful
      So, what is wrong with people doing a good job and creating value, getting a little bit of that value back so they can pay rent ?
      Nothing. Exactly like there's nothing wrong with telling people that there's something out there that does exactly what they want and is expensive, and that there is something with some/much/most/all of the functionality but it's Free, Open Source or Cheap.
  12. Re:Maxima by RealAlaskan · · Score: 5, Informative
    I have played with Maxima a little bit. I think it is a decent peice of software. It started out as a government research app that was later open sourced. Unfortunately development is slow (if even existent)...

    It is being actively developed. While William Schelter was maintaining it (for 19 lonely years), development was very slow indeed. I gather that most of the work was done by him, and some of his graduate students. Since his death in 2001, a number of other people have come on board, and there is a lot of catching up to do.

    Some documentation has been rewritten, a great many bugs have been squashed, the package has been ported to several Lisps (yes, it does matter to users), there has been at least one new Emacs mode written for it, it can be used with Texmacs, and so on. Some of the people who are working on it are big names in their spheres, like Richard Fateman, who worked on the original Macsyma.

    Version 5.9.1 was released in September '04, and the next big step will be the GREAT SOURCE DOWNCASING. Maxima is so old that most of it is written in all caps. There is a lot to do to bring it into the 21st century, and most of what's being done right now is behind-the-scenes stuff.

    As you say, it's decent software now. It's fully usable, with a useful GUI for Windows (developed on Schelter's watch, as I recall). It is probably better for memory intensive work than Maple or Mathematica; that's what initially got me started using it.

    --
    See what I've been reading.
  13. Maxima is your best bet by amundson · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I lead the Maxima project, http://maxima.sourceforge.net/. Maxima is a full-featured GPL'd computer algebra system under active development. We don't hear much from people who want to use Maxima for high school mathematics, but we would welcome the input.

  14. Quantian article by Ed+Pegg · · Score: 5, Informative
    I own the quantian.org domain. The following is from my article on the Quantian Distribution. Here is a brief run down of links, programs, and other goodies in Quantian.