I've used many of the commercial statistics packages and dabbled in exploring a few of the commercial mathematics software packages; they are all powerful, versatile--and expensive. Sage shows what open source software can contribute to learning and discovery by making a powerful mathematics package available to users for free. Sage is written in Python and is available from the University of Washington (and other mirror sites). The software recently won first prize at the Les Trophées du Libre competition for free open source software. Consult the Tutorial to get started with Sage. To try a few Sage commands before deciding to download the large software package, use the online Notebook. (The site is very busy after being described in Slashdot and other popular blogs, so it may be difficult to connect.) ____JH
_____
"Use SAGE for studying a huge range of mathematics, including algebra, calculus, elementary to very advanced number theory, cryptography, numerical computation, commutative algebra, group theory, combinatorics, graph theory, and exact linear algebra. "
"You work with SAGE using the highly regarded scripting language Python instead of an obscure language designed for a particular mathematics program. You can write programs that combine serious mathematics with anything else. "
"Use SAGE from your web browser, which connects either to a program running on your computer, or a program running elsewhere. With the SAGE notebook you can create embedded graphics, beautifully typeset mathematical expressions, add and delete input, and start up and interrupt multiple calculations. "
[Thanks to KurzweilAI.net Accelerating Intelligence News for the SAGE citation.]
8:42:31 AM 
|
|
