This is an example of a Maxima-Fishbowl notebook, showing text, formulas, and plots. To start with, I'll compute an integral.

In [2]:

integrate (exp(-t^2), t, minf, inf)

$$\sqrt{\pi}$$

Terrific. How about an example that shows the nice $\LaTeX$ integral sign.

In [5]:

'integrate (x*log(x), x, a, b)

$$\int_{a}^{b}{x\,\log x\;dx}$$

What about finding the roots of a polynomial?

In [7]:

foo : solve (x^3 - 2, x)

$$\left[ x={{2^{{{1}\over{3}}}\,\sqrt{3}\,i-2^{{{1}\over{3}}}}\over{2 }} , x=-{{2^{{{1}\over{3}}}\,\sqrt{3}\,i+2^{{{1}\over{3}}}}\over{2}} , x=2^{{{1}\over{3}}} \right] $$

Let's verify that the elements of foo are indeed the roots in question.

In [9]:

bar : map (lambda ([u], u^3), map (rhs, foo))

$$\left[ {{\left(2^{{{1}\over{3}}}\,\sqrt{3}\,i-2^{{{1}\over{3}}} \right)^3}\over{8}} , -{{\left(2^{{{1}\over{3}}}\,\sqrt{3}\,i+2^{{{1 }\over{3}}}\right)^3}\over{8}} , 2 \right] $$

Well, it's still not obvious. Let's simplify a little.

In [10]:

map (radcan, bar)

$$\left[ 2 , 2 , 2 \right] $$

Here's a different way to simplify.

In [11]:

map (expand, bar)

$$\left[ 2 , 2 , 2 \right] $$

Now let's make a plot. Note that the plot2d expression has to be quoted -- at present this workaround is necessary. If the quote is omitted, the plot shows up in a Gnuplot window, not in the document. Future versions of Maxima-Fishbowl will, I hope, lack this misfeature.

In [12]:

'plot2d ([sin, cos, tan], [x, -10, 10], [y, -10, 10])

By the way, output to standard output (e.g. the output of print or describe) is displayed in the notebook as plain text.

In [13]:

print ("HELLO WORLD!")

HELLO WORLD!

$$\mbox{ HELLO WORLD! }$$

In the case of print, the printed value is also returned, so it is typeset also. Documentation from the reference manual must be retrieved by describe, as the ? and ?? notations are not (yet) understood by Maxima-Fishbowl.

In [14]:

describe (erf)


 -- Function: erf (<z>)

     The Error Function erf(z) (A&S 7.1.1)

     See also flag 'erfflag'.

  There are also some inexact matches for `erf'.
  Try `?? erf' to see them.

$$\mathbf{true}$$

OK, that's all for now!