Loci

Other Advanced Topics

<< Previous  ||   Next >>

Contents:
Title and Synopsis
Basics
Try It!
Elementary School
Middle and High School
Calculus
Combinatorics
Linear Algebra
Differential Equations
Other Advanced Topics
It's Not (Only) About Math!
More Examples (and Data!)
Less Is More
So Is It Perfect Yet?
What About Google?
Possible Implications
A Threat?
Resources

[Note: This article appears best using the Firefox browser.]

The power of Wolfram|Alpha is not limited to the K-14 curriculum. Even those college faculty who teach more advanced courses cannot afford to ignore Wolfram|Alpha. For instance, Wolfram|Alpha can compute quadratic residues mod 5, or give you the formula for the variance of uniform distribution. It can compute a Groebner basis for {x^2 y^3 + 3x^2 y - y^3, y^2+2x, xy}, and it knows about the baby monster group.

"Fourier x^2" will give the Fourier tranform of x2. However, if you want the Fourier series expansion of x2, then simply entering "Fourier series expansion of x^2" will not work. But if you follow up on Wolfram|Alpha's suggestion and click on Fourier series, you get to a page where you are told the Mathematica expression suitable for your inquiry so that you can enter your request in a way that Wolfram|Alpha's Mathematica core can interpret and respond to. Once you figure out that you are supposed to enter this question using Mathematica language, you can simply enter "FourierSeries[x^2,x,4]" to get what you want.

Thus with the power of Wolfram|Alpha at their disposal, instructors can assign computationally involved exercises which allow students to work with nontrivial problems. This opens up many new possibilities.

up

[Note: Contents of frame come from wolframalpha.com and are not maintained by Loci]