Getting Started with Mathematica


Contents:


Obtaining a Mathematica notebook.


Opening a Mathematica notebook.


Typing and executing commands in a Mathematica notebook.

Move up and down the page with scrollbar or arrow buttons, located along the right edge of the notebook.

Everything in the notebook is grouped by square brackets along the right margin of the notebook. These groupings are called ``cells". There are three types of cells:

Filled with insightful commentary on the subject matter:

Actual commands to be entered into Mathematica:

Mathematica output from entered commands:

Place the cursor between two cells so that the cursor turns horizontal. Then click the left mouse button to make a long horizontal line appear between the cells. Now, whatever you type will appear where this line is.

Place the cursor anywhere within the cell containing the command, and click the left mouse button. This will place the blinking cursor in the cell. Then, press the ``Enter" button (located at the lower-righthand corner of the keyboard, where the numerical keypad is). This will enter all the commands in that cell. (NOTE: If you prefer to use the "Enter" key that is closer to the letter keys, you must hold down the "Shift" key while pressing this "Enter" to execute a command. Pay special attention to this issue - its important!) Once the commands have been processed, Mathematica will assign a number to the entered command:

If the command cell produces any output, it will also appear.


Saving a Mathematica notebook.


Selecting part of a Mathematica notebook to print.


Printing a Mathematica notebook.


Closing a Mathematica notebook.