Maxima is an open source CAS (computer algebra system) inspired by the Macsyma system from MIT. It allows you to perform powerful algebraic functions, including numerical and symbolic expressions as well as differential equations and other complex equations. The program was created by William Schelter. Since he passed away in 2001, it has been maintained by the Maxima Development Team.
Maxima is a full featured CAS with support for rational numbers, arbitrary-precision arithmetic integers as well as floating point numbers. The only limitation of its number and integer capability is your computer’s memory. Although it is a general purpose software, you can perform special calculations and polynomials, manipulation, linear system equation tensors, matrices, vectors, lists, sets and more.
Because Maxima uses floating point numbers, arbitrary precision integers and exact fractions it produces highly precise numeric results. The program’s source code can be run on Windows, Mac and versions of Linux. Maxima has its own programming language, and the syntax is similar to ALGOL.
It’s capabilities do not end there as you can also use it to plot data and functions in 2D and 3D. Among the areas of mathematics that Maxima can handle are differential equations, symmetries, number theory, and linear algebra.
This software is clearly not for everyone, but if you’re a student, a scientific researcher and your work requires the use of algebraic formulas, a CAS like Maxima will be indispensible. Not only can it resolve tough equations, but it does so very quickly. Even if you find yourself working with large complex equations, Maxima will be able to handle it, with only your system resources limiting its power.
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