Producing WYSIWYG typeset mathematical expressions can be done either using
palettes or using various keyboard shortcuts. The latter are exceptionally
easy to use and remember (much quicker than typing the corresponding TeX
code and far easier than any equation editor I've seen).
Mathematica documents can be given a hierarchical structure (sections,
subsections, etc.) with a few clicks of the mouse. Structural elements can
be automatically numbered (as in LaTeX). Global formatting of a document
can be done instantly by applying any of a variety of style sheets, which
can be personalized by the user in virtually every detail. I can foresee
giving up LaTeX altogether some day (but not quite yet).
Mathematica graphics can be copied directly to the clipboard and pasted into
applications supporting metafile format. They can also be exported as
bitmaps, encapsulated postscript, and Adobe Illustrator format (and perhaps
more soon).
Hypertext links are easily inserted in Mathematica documents. Mathematica
also lets you create your own buttons and palettes that can perform almost
any operation imaginable.
Mathematica has the best online help I have ever seen in any program.
Mathematica documents can be exported as TeX, HTML or RTF. Mathematica
documents can also be sent as plain text files in email and automatically
reconstructed in their formatted glory on the other end (in a Mathematica
compatible application).
Mathematica documents posted on a web site or otherwise distributed can be
read with the free MathReader program (http://www.wolfram.com/mathreader/).
The student version is a bargain (costs less than a TI-92 and does a lot
more).
It is easy to get additional help with Mathematica when you need it: The
Mathematica community includes over a million users and supports 3 dedicated
journals and multiple internet news groups. There are now well over a
hundred books published about Mathematica, and the pace of publication is
increasing as the experts have had time to work with the latest version.
Also, many Mathematica programs are available for downloading, both from
MathSource (http://www.wolfram.com/mathsource) and from numerous individuals
in academia and elsewhere.
I think that students appreciate the opportunity to work with a true
industrial strength technical computing package.
Mathematica can be configured to communicate with other programs. In
particular, when the speed of a compiled language is necessary, existing
program libraries written in C or Fortran can be called directly from
Mathematica.
Finally, Mathematica the program is completely immersed in Mathematica the
programming language. This is a flexible, extensible and extremely
self-consistent high-level language that has a natural feel (from this
mathematician's point of view) and supports a wide variety of programming
styles.
The bottom line: if disk space or cost are critical issues then Mathematica
may not be your best choice, but if you are interested in power and quality
then give it a try ...
Ron Goetz
St. Louis Community College at Meramec
11333 Big Bend Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63122
rgoetz@mcmail.stlcc.cc.mo.us
goetzr@ams.member.org
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