Your First Mathematica Calculations
Type
and then press
Shift+Enter (hold down the
Shift key and press
Enter) to tell
Mathematica to evaluate your input.
Note that labels are added automatically, and output is placed below the input.
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Your first calculation will take longer than subsequent calculations because the
Mathematica kernel has to start up.
You can use
Mathematica just like a calculator. Type the input
9.7^200 and press
Shift+Enter. Here is the result.
A basic numerical calculation.
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Here is an example from algebra. Type the input
Factor[x^25-1] and note that as you type, the first bracket after the function name
Factor has a special color until the closing bracket is typed.
A basic algebraic calculation.
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You can use Greek letters or letters from other alphabets as variables.
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You can recall your most recent input (or output) in your next evaluation by pressing
(or
).
Mathematica uses syntax coloring to help you compose expressions that are complicated. As part of that, function names and variables that are known to the
Mathematica kernel are colored black. New symbol names are by default colored blue, but turn black after being evaluated for the first time.
You can configure the syntax coloring system using the
Syntax Coloring dialog box. To open the dialog box, choose
, click the
Appearance tab, and then the
Syntax Coloring tab.
Here are some more examples.
Integrate is just one of over a thousand built-in
Mathematica functions.
Note that the variable of integration is specially colored in the input.
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Plot3D produces a three-dimensional plot. The graphic appears directly in your notebook, and can be interactively rotated and zoomed in or out.
Note that the plotting variables are also specially colored.
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You can get instant information about a built-in function. Type
?, the function name, and then press
Shift+Enter.
In a notebook interface,
?function also gives a link to the documentation for
function.
To complete a partially typed command name, press
. This is equivalent to . To see a function template for a given function, press
. This is equivalent to .
To abort a calculation, press
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More options for controlling evaluation can be found under the menu.
Some Mathematica Conventions
Here are some basic things to remember when working with
Mathematica:
Built-in functions are capitalized. Arguments to functions are wrapped with square brackets.
Sin
Each of these represents multiplication.
means 
.
These are standard arithmetic operations.
Uppercase and lowercase letters are recognized as different characters. Lists are wrapped with curly brackets.
Built-in symbols are capitalized. Commas are used to separate arguments. A semicolon suppresses output, but the command is still evaluated.
N[Pi, 50];
Variables are usually lowercase. Entire words can be used.
