low cost math program?

orange31 · 1st May 2012, 03:38 PM

Hello, are their low cost ( < $100) or even free user friendly math programs out there, for personal use? Some of the big boys are priced more for institutions; thanks!

Pulvinar · 1st May 2012, 03:47 PM

I use SymPy due to it being Python-based (and free). There are others out there:

http://www.opensourcemath.org/opensource_math.html

Tubbythin · 1st May 2012, 04:03 PM

I like R.

blobru · 1st May 2012, 04:26 PM

GeoGebra's nice (for geometry & algebra); free, too.

catsmate1 · 1st May 2012, 05:04 PM

I don't know if you'd describe it as easy to use but Scilab is excellent. There's also Octave but (I'm told) it's rather rough still. Both are similar to Mathlab.

Brian-M · 1st May 2012, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by orange31

Hello, are their low cost ( < $100) or even free user friendly math programs out there, for personal use? Some of the big boys are priced more for institutions; thanks!

What exactly do you mean by "math program"?

A calculator program?
Spreadsheet?
Accounting software?
Math tutor?

xtifr · 1st May 2012, 07:10 PM

If you're interested in online resources, there's http://www.wolframalpha.com/ from the makers of Matlab. It's no substitute for Matlab/SciLab/Octave, but it can do some pretty impressive things.

Tubbythin · 2nd May 2012, 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by xtifr

If you're interested in online resources, there's http://www.wolframalpha.com/ from the makers of Matlab. It's no substitute for Matlab/SciLab/Octave, but it can do some pretty impressive things.

wolframalpha is from the makers of Mathematica, not Matlab.

elgarak · 2nd May 2012, 03:08 AM

I usually understand "Math software" = "Computer Algebra System".

Is that what you want?

If so, this Wiki article gives a pretty nice overview.

The vast majority of them are free (open source and/or publicly licensed). Some are insanely expensive (though those expensive commercial ones are usually 'nicer', user friendlier, and with more complete feature lists). A handful are cheap.

orange31 · 2nd May 2012, 08:03 AM

Yes, something that can do calculus, advanced algebra - thanks for the help!

fuelair · 2nd May 2012, 03:36 PM

Let's also bump this one occasionally for the benefit of others who might want similar programs/ assistance!! And BUMP!!

fuelair · 4th May 2012, 02:06 PM

And, thus I bumpeth!!

fuelair · 4th May 2012, 06:21 PM

again. Keep watching the threads!

fuelair · 5th May 2012, 06:42 PM

And, probably last for this one - we'll check the views number tomorrow and decide....

fuelair · 6th May 2012, 12:56 PM

It's up a good bit so one more, then.......

Brian-M · 6th May 2012, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by fuelair

It's up a good bit so one more, then.......

It's possible that most of views are from people like me, who see the thread come up in their subscription list or the main page and click on it to see if anybody's said anything interesting, only to be disappointed that it's just another bump.

(Of course, I could always remove it from my subscription list, but I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Normally I clear out a whole bunch of threads from the list at once.)

1st May 2012, 03:38 PM	#1
orange31 Thinker Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 162	low cost math program? Hello, are their low cost ( < $100) or even free user friendly math programs out there, for personal use? Some of the big boys are priced more for institutions; thanks!
orange31 Thinker Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 162

1st May 2012, 03:47 PM	#2
Pulvinar Muse Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 818	I use SymPy due to it being Python-based (and free). There are others out there: http://www.opensourcemath.org/opensource_math.html
Pulvinar Muse Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 818

1st May 2012, 04:03 PM	#3
Tubbythin Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,206	I like R.
Tubbythin Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,206

1st May 2012, 04:26 PM	#4
blobru Philosopher Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 6,590	GeoGebra's nice (for geometry & algebra); free, too.
blobru Philosopher Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 6,590	__________________ "Say to them, 'I am Nobody!'" -- Ulysses to the Cyclops "Never mind. I can't read." -- Hokulele to the Easter Bunny Last edited by blobru; 1st May 2012 at 04:29 PM.

1st May 2012, 06:16 PM	#6
Brian-M Daydreamer Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Downunder Posts: 4,264	Originally Posted by orange31 Hello, are their low cost ( < $100) or even free user friendly math programs out there, for personal use? Some of the big boys are priced more for institutions; thanks! What exactly do you mean by "math program"? A calculator program? Spreadsheet? Accounting software? Math tutor?
	__________________ "That is just what you feel, that isn't reality." - hamelekim

1st May 2012, 05:04 PM	#5
catsmate1 Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Dublin (the one in Ireland) Posts: 7,114	I don't know if you'd describe it as easy to use but Scilab is excellent. There's also Octave but (I'm told) it's rather rough still. Both are similar to Mathlab.

1st May 2012, 07:10 PM	#7
xtifr Muse Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sol III Posts: 563	If you're interested in online resources, there's http://www.wolframalpha.com/ from the makers of Matlab. It's no substitute for Matlab/SciLab/Octave, but it can do some pretty impressive things.
	__________________ "Those who learn from history are doomed to watch others repeat it." -- Anonymous Slashdot poster "The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore." -- James Nicoll

2nd May 2012, 01:12 AM	#8
Tubbythin Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,206	Originally Posted by xtifr If you're interested in online resources, there's http://www.wolframalpha.com/ from the makers of Matlab. It's no substitute for Matlab/SciLab/Octave, but it can do some pretty impressive things. wolframalpha is from the makers of Mathematica, not Matlab.
Tubbythin Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,206

2nd May 2012, 03:08 AM	#9
elgarak Graduate Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: No matter where I go, there I am Posts: 1,859	I usually understand "Math software" = "Computer Algebra System". Is that what you want? If so, this Wiki article gives a pretty nice overview. The vast majority of them are free (open source and/or publicly licensed). Some are insanely expensive (though those expensive commercial ones are usually 'nicer', user friendlier, and with more complete feature lists). A handful are cheap.

2nd May 2012, 08:03 AM	#10
orange31 Thinker Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 162	Yes, something that can do calculus, advanced algebra - thanks for the help!
orange31 Thinker Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 162

2nd May 2012, 03:36 PM	#11
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,914	Let's also bump this one occasionally for the benefit of others who might want similar programs/ assistance!! And BUMP!!
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,914	__________________ There is no problem so great that it cannot be fixed by small explosives carefully placed. Wash this space! We fight for the Lady Babylon!!!

4th May 2012, 02:06 PM	#12
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,914	And, thus I bumpeth!!
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,914	__________________ There is no problem so great that it cannot be fixed by small explosives carefully placed. Wash this space! We fight for the Lady Babylon!!!

4th May 2012, 06:21 PM	#13
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,914	again. Keep watching the threads!
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,914	__________________ There is no problem so great that it cannot be fixed by small explosives carefully placed. Wash this space! We fight for the Lady Babylon!!!

5th May 2012, 06:42 PM	#14
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,914	And, probably last for this one - we'll check the views number tomorrow and decide....
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,914	__________________ There is no problem so great that it cannot be fixed by small explosives carefully placed. Wash this space! We fight for the Lady Babylon!!!

6th May 2012, 12:56 PM	#15
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,914	It's up a good bit so one more, then.......
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,914	__________________ There is no problem so great that it cannot be fixed by small explosives carefully placed. Wash this space! We fight for the Lady Babylon!!!

6th May 2012, 09:14 PM	#16
Brian-M Daydreamer Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Downunder Posts: 4,264	Originally Posted by fuelair It's up a good bit so one more, then....... It's possible that most of views are from people like me, who see the thread come up in their subscription list or the main page and click on it to see if anybody's said anything interesting, only to be disappointed that it's just another bump. (Of course, I could always remove it from my subscription list, but I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Normally I clear out a whole bunch of threads from the list at once.)
	__________________ "That is just what you feel, that isn't reality." - hamelekim