Maple Quick Start

Introduction
In this introductory course, you will become familiar with and comfortable in the Maple
environment. You will learn how to use context menus, task assistants, and palettes to
perform powerful analyses and create high-impact graphics with only a minimal
knowledge of commands. You will also learn how to create technical reports that
capture the knowledge behind an analysis directly in the Maple document. This course
will give you the tools you need to get started quickly, and a solid foundation upon
which to build your future Maple explorations.
To try this material on your own, start with an empty Maple document. Perform the
steps found in the left column of each table below. The results of each step are
displayed in the right column for your reference.
Note for non-Windows or international users: The keystrokes given in this
document are for Windows using a QWERTY keyboard. If you are using a different
platform or keyboard, see Help> Quick Help for the list of the most common keystrokes
or the 2-D math shortcut keys help page.

Talking to Maple
In this section, you will learn the basics of asking Maple a question and getting a result.

Steps

Results

Using [ENTER]
When you launch Maple you start with a
blank document, with menus and toolbars
at the top, palettes on the side. At the
cursor, you can start typing math. Press
[ENTER] to see the result.

Example: Type "1+2 [ENTER]".

Notice that the result appears on the next
line.

(2.1)

Using [Alt][ENTER]
In the example above, we obtained a
result by pressing [ENTER] after our
input.

You can also get Maple to return the

result on the same line as your question
by typing [Alt][ENTER] (hold down the
alt key, then press the enter key).

Example: Type "x+5-2" then [Alt]

[ENTER].

Context Menus
You can use Maple's context menus to
perform a wide variety of operations.

Example: Place your cursor on the last

result, and right-click. The context menu
offers several operations to choose from
according to the expression that you are
using. To integrate this expression, select
Integrate, then x.

Example: To plot the result of the

integration, right-click on the result, and
then select Plots > 2-D Plot.

The context menus are self-documenting.

The text above the arrow shows what
operation has been performed.

integrate w.r.t. x

integrate w.r.t. x

Smart Popups
It is also possible to generate plots and to
apply commands using Smart Popups. To
turn on smart popups, the
button in
the Maple toolbar must be selected.
Example: Enter

and hit

[Enter]. Hover the mouse over the

output and then choose 2D Plot.

Changing the Problem

Mathematics in a Maple document are
live. You can go back, make changes, and
re-execute the problem to obtain a new
result.

Example: Go back to your original

calculation of "1 + 2", change the
number "1" to a "3" and press [ENTER].
Note the change in output.

Example: In the context menu example,

above, change the "x" to ""10 x" ".
Highlight the entire line, including the
plot, then click the execute button,

found at the top of the Maple worksheet.

All selected calculations are updated.

(2.2)
integrate w.r.t. x

Tip: Clicking on the "execute all" button,

, recalculates the entire document.

Entering Math
There are a number of methods to enter math into Maple. You can enter math using a
combination of palettes, keyboard shortcuts, context menus and commands. Most
operations can be entered in more than one way, so you can pick the method you are
most comfortable with.

Steps

Results

Exact Answers and Numeric

Approximations
=

5
6

=
Example: On a new line, enter 1/2 + 1/3.

5
6

Note that the / automatically moves you

to the denominator. The right-arrow will
take you out. Press [Alt][ENTER] to see
the result on the same line.

Maple also calculates numeric

approximations.

Maple calculates exact answers (i.e.

fractions remain as fractions).

Example: Right-click the above result and

select Approximate from the context
menu. Select accuracy of 5 digits.

If your problem uses decimal

approximations already, Maple will return
the answer in the same format.
Example: Try the example on the right.

You can apply different formatting to

numeric results.
Example: Right-click the above result and
select Numeric Formatting... from the
context menu. Select Scientific, then
press Apply Formatting.

at 5 digits

0.83333

Palettes
Maple has over 1000 palette symbols
within the palette menus. You can also
use Maple's expression palette to input
expressions. The expression palette
contains fill-in-the-blank templates for
common operations.

Example: Use the Expression Palette, find

the integral of
. Open the
expression palette (click on Expression
on the left-hand side of your Maple
document) and click the indefinite integral
button. An indefinite integral template will
appear in your worksheet. Fill in the
place-holders (use [TAB] to move to the
next placeholder). When done, press
[ENTER] to evaluate.

Note: Use ^ to create a superscript, and

right-arrow to get out again.

Example: Use the expression palette to

find the limit of a function.

Tip: Put frequently used palette entries

on the Favorites Palette. Right-click on the
palette button and select Add to
Favorites Palette.

Tip: Maple has many different palettes for

entering expressions. To see all of the
available palettes, right-click on the
palette dock and select Arrange
Palettes.

(3.1)

=0

Symbol Completion
The symbol completion mechanism
provides an alternative to palettes for
entering symbols.

(3.2)

Type the first few characters of the

symbol name, and press [Ctrl][Space].
Choose the symbol you want from the list.

Example: Try entering

. To enter

[Ctrl][Space].

Case-Sensitivity
=
Maple is case-sensitive.

Example: Enter "

".

Example: Enter "

".

Compare the results.

Implicit Multiplication
Maple understands implicit multiplication.

Example: Type " 3 x " for "3 times x".

To multiply two variables, use a space.

" x y " means "x times y", but " xy "
means the

variable whose name is "xy".

Example: Type "x [space] y + xy ".

If you choose to Differentiate using the

context menu, you will see that x, y, and
xy are treated as three separate variables
due to the way they were entered.

You should be careful using implicit

multiplication in Maple to avoid confusion
with function calls. To us,
looks
like a function call, and
looks like
implied multiplication. Maple understands
both of these as function calls.

Example: Enter

=
=
=

using no space,

a space, and an explicit multiplication

sign. Ask Maple to calculate each result so
you can see the differences.

When multiplying with brackets you can

use a space to achieve implicit
multiplication, but it is usually safest to
explicitly use the multiplication symbol.

Maple also automatically inserts a space

between side-by-side closing and opening

Mathematical Notation
solve DE

Maple understands familiar mathematical

notation.

For example, Maple understands that

is a differential equation in
.

Example: Enter the equation listed above

(using the single quote key for the prime
notation). To verify that it is in fact a
differential equation, select Solve DE
from the context menu.

Label References
Maple uses label references.

(3.3)
Whenever you use [ENTER] to get a
response, the result is automatically given
a label reference. To refer to a previous
result in a computation, use [Ctrl]+[L]
and enter the label reference number.

Example: Multiply the result

(from above) by x, using labels.

To reference an equation from another

document, use Insert > Reference...

Variable Assignment
(3.4)
In order to assign a value to a variable
name, the colon-equals operator is used.

Example: To assign the value "5*x" to

the variable name "costA", the
assignment statement, := (colon
equals) is used. After a value has been
assigned to "costA", it can be used in
subsequent calculations.

(3.5)
(3.6)
(3.7)

Note: Anything you want Maple to

evaluate (e.g.. assignment statements),
must be entered in Math mode. Anything
entered in Text mode will be nonexecutable.

Tip: Find the list of keyboard shortcuts for your platform. Click Help > Quick Help
menu, and select Math Editor Shortcuts.

Combining Text and Math

In Maple you can combine math and text in the same paragraph to help formulate
mathematical sentences.

Steps

Results

Example: Start by entering a simple

computation.

The integral

The integral

is equal to

Place your cursor at the end of the output, The integral

press [F5], and complete the rest of the
sentence.

is equal to

Go back to the start of your computation

(place the cursor to the left of your
expression), press [F5] to change from
math input to text input, and start typing
text.
You can also input text in place of the
equals sign (=). Click on the equals sign
and replace it with some additional text.

Modify some of the terms in the problem,

highlight the entire sentence and press
the

The integral

is equal to
, as you can

button to re-execute the

computation.

, as you can plainly see.

plainly see.

Tip: Pressing [F5] allows you to easily toggle between math input and text input.
Tip: In math mode, the cursor is slanted and has a dotted box around it. In text mode,
the cursor appears as a vertical bar.

Tip: To check what mode you are in, look at the top left of the toolbar. In text mode it
will look like

. In math mode it will look like

can also use these buttons to change modes as an alternative to pressing [F5].

. You

Plotting
Maple can produce 2-D and 3-D plots of equations and expressions.

Steps

Results

2-D Plots
Now we will demonstrate plotting in
Maple. The fastest way to plot an
expression in Maple is to use the context
menu.

Example: Enter an expression in x (e.g.

), right-click on the expression, and
select Plots > 2-D Plot.

Example: Use the point probe to find the

coordinates of different points in the
graph. To turn on the point probe, rightclick on the plot and choose Nearest point
on line.

Example: To pan the plot, right-click on

the plot, and select Manipulator>Pan.
Hold down the left mouse button and use
the mouse to move the plot around. To
scale the plot, perform the same steps,
but select Manipulator>Scale.

Tip: You can also change the manipulator

tool by clicking on the plot, and then
selecting the appropriate tool from plot
toolbar at the top of the Maple window:
.
The enhanced point probe tool can find
the point on the curve closest to your
cursor, and allows you the ability to
extract the coordinates of the cursor and
paste them anywhere in the document.

Combining Plots
You can easily add another plot on the
same set of axes.

Example: Enter another equation in x (e.

g.

), highlight the new expression

with your mouse, hold down the [Ctrl] key

and drag it onto the plot.

Annotating Plots
You can add additional information to
plots by using the drawing tools. Lines,
arrows, text, 2D math, and shapes are
available.

Example: Click on the plot, then click on

the button on the
toolbar. Use the text tool (T) to enter
labels for the curves. Use [F5] to toggle
between text and math, and standard
Maple math editor entry keystrokes.

3-D Plots
Example: Enter an expression in x and y
(e.g.
). Right-click on the
expression and use Plots > 3-D Plots >
x,y from the context menu.

Example: Rotate the plot by clicking on

the plot, holding down the left mouse
button and moving the mouse.

Example: Pan and scale the plot by

selecting a different tool from the
Manipulator list on the context menu.
Now when you hold down the mouse
button and move the mouse, the new
action is performed.

Tip: You can also change the manipulator

tool by clicking on the plot, and then
selecting the appropriate tool at the top
of the Maple window:

Plot Options
You can modify the look of your plot in a
variety of ways.

Plot options can be changed by rightclicking on the plot and modifying the
options within the contest menu. Note
that the choices available in the context
menu are specific to 3-D plots.

Example: Right-click on the plot to obtain

the context menu. Click Transparency
and modify the plot transparency.

Plot options can also be changed by

clicking on the plot, selecting the Plot
toolbar at the top of your Maple
worksheet, and selecting the relevant
options.

Example: Click on the image, from the

toolbar select Plot > Axes > Boxed.

Task Assistants, Tutors and Math Apps

As explored above, context menus are one way to solve problems without using Maple
commands. Task assistants provide another method. Tutors are useful for teaching and
exploring mathematical concepts. The full list of assistants and tutors can be found on
the Tools menu.

Steps
Using the Plot Builder
Assistant
Plots can easily be created in Maple using
the builtin Plot Builder.

Example: Enter the expression you want

to plot. From the context menu, select
Plots > Plot Builder. Using the Plot
Builder, you can choose the kind of plot
you want, add titles, and set options, all
at once. This example shows a 3-D plot
with the use of plot title, normal axes
and style of surface with contours.

Results

The Plot Builder allows you to create more

than just ordinary 2-D and 3-D plots. The
example on the right is a polar plot.

Example: Enter the expression

. Select Plots > Plot
Builder from the context menu. Select 2D Polar Plot from the Select Plot Type
list box, then click Plot.

You can also create an animation using

the Plot Builder assistant.

Example: Enter the expression on the

right, right-click to invoke the context
menu.
Select Plots > Plot Builder >
Animation from the Select Plot Type
drop-down list, and click the Plot button.

Now click on the plot image - some new,

plot-specific, buttons will appear at the
top left of your worksheet. Click
and watch the animation.

Using the Exploration

Assistant
The Exploration Assistant allows you to
instantly create interactive miniapplications used to explore the
parameters of the expressions

Example: Enter the expression you want

to explore. Select Explore from the
context menu. In the submenu, input the
parameters you would like to test. If you
do not want to explore a variable, check
the box next to skip.
With the given expression, choose to skip
x and y.
Explore generates an user interface with
interactive sliders, dials or gauges that
can vary the values for the parameters
and show the results.

a
0

10

10

Using Tutors in Maple

Maple provides several tutors which are
useful for teaching and exploring
mathematical concepts in the subjects of:
Calculus - Single-Variable
Calculus - Multi-Variable
Complex Variables
Differential Equations
Linear Algebra
Numerical Analysis
Precalculus
Statistics
Vector Calculus

Example: From the menu, select Tools >

Tutors > Calculus - Single Variable >
Integration Methods. Enter a function
and follow the example through by
applying the correct rule at each step and
using the "Get Hint" button for help.

Math Apps

Drum Vibrations

Math Apps and other interactive

applications provide demonstrations that
illustrate various mathematical and
scientific concepts. The MathApp Guide
provides an overview of all of the
available applications in many different
fields including Discrete Math,
Engineering, Finance, Statistics, and
more.

Example: From the menu, select Tools >

MathApps To open a MathApp, simply
click on its icon.

Tip: You can also view Math Apps online using the online Maple Cloud.

Entering Commands
While many operations in Maple can be done through the use of context menus and
other interactive tools, Maple also has a rich programming language.

Steps

Results

Entering Maple Commands

Many commands are grouped together in
packages. You can type the long name, or
enter a with() command prior to using a
command from that particular package.

Example: Create a Matrix, M, and apply

the command
to find the
determinant of M.

(7.1)

(7.2)

Note: If you do not provide the package

name, Maple does not know the definition
of this function, and so simply returns the
unevaluated expression.

(7.3)

You can avoid having to type the longform of each command by pre-loading the
desired package. You can use a colon at
the end of the command to suppress
output.

(7.4)

(7.5)
Example: Load the LinearAlgebra
package first using a colon. Try again
without the colon to see the difference.

Example: Now calculate the Determinant

of M using the short-form of the
command.

Command completion is very useful when

typing out long command names.

Example: Type Gau, then press [Ctrl]+

[Space] to see a list of possible
completions. Use the arrow key to select
the desired command and press [Enter],

Document Editing and Formatting Tools

Maple contains numerous word processing tools to help you create professional-looking
reports. For your reference, here is a list of some of the more common ones.

Feature

Where to Find It

Built-in title and headings styles

Drop-down list on toolbar

Sections and subsections

Insert > Section, Insert > Subsection

Tables

Insert > Table

Ability to edit table properties

Right-click anywhere in the table, then

select Table>

Drawing canvas

Insert > Canvas

Font control and ability to define new

styles

Toolbar buttons, Format > Styles...

Ability to insert images, spreadsheets and

other objects

Insert > Image, Insert > Object

A spell-checker aware of mathematical

terms

Tools > Spellcheck

Hyperlinks and bookmarks

Format > Convert to > Hyperlink

Format > Bookmarks...

Ability to add headers and footers

View>Header Footer

Export to HTML, PDF, etc.

File > Export As

Tip: The user manual contains a chapter on creating mathematical documents.

Configuring the Maple Environment

You can customize the Maple environment in many ways. Below is a list of the most
common ones. Note that any option set through the Options menu can be set just for

this session, or globally (every time you start Maple).

Feature

How to Control Feature

Start-up dialog

Turn it off by clearing the check box on

the dialog.
Turn it on again through Tools >
Options, Interface tab.
See it anytime by Help > Startup
Dialog...

Quick Help displayed on new documents

Turn it off by clearing the check box on

the quick help.
Turn it on again through Tools >
Options, Interface tab.
See it anytime by pressing [F1].

Option for new documents to start in

Document mode (no prompt, context
menu commands hidden) or Worksheet
mode (prompts, all commands shown).

Tools > Options, Interface tab

Option to enter math in 2-D (default) or 1D

Tools > Options, Display tab

(Note: Choice only available in worksheet

mode. All math must be entered in 2-D in
document mode.)

You can also control the input type for

individual lines, without changing the
overall default.

Default format for new worksheets...

Input Display...

vs. x^2

Use context menu on the line above.

Selecting Convert to > 2-D Math Input
turns the above line into

Number of digits displayed in calculation

results.

Tools > Options, Precision tab

Round screen display to..

Maple displays 10 digits by default

(though it calculates with more).
For example, show the floating point

3.141592654

(9.1)

After setting the screen display to 5, the

result is:

3.141592654
Add item to Favorites Palette.

Palettes can be reordered, and individual

palettes can be moved from one dock to
the other, or turned off completely.

Palette docks can also be expanded and

collapsed.

(9.2)

Right-click on palette button, Add to

Favorites Palette

View > Palettes > Arrange Palettes...

Use the View> Palettes menu, or the

small arrows at the top of the palette to
expand and collapse. For the left-handside dock, these arrows are in the topright corner of the palette, to the right of
the scroll bar.

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