macsyma  is a uniquely powerful interactive computer program which manipulates algebraic expressions.  Among its many features are the abilities to differentiate, integrate, take limits, solve systems of linear or polynomial equations, factor polynomials, expand functions in Laurent or Taylor series, solve differential equations in closed form, and generate fortran programs. 
 
It also has a programming language to permit you to write programs for extending and customizing the system.

If you are new to computer-aided algebraic manipulation, you will be surprised at how easy it is to start using macsyma. 

The explanations and examples in this manual will help you take full advantage of macsyma's features.  It is divided into four sections.

] Learning macsyma will teach you the fundamentals of the system.  When you are finished with this section you should be able to use macsyma  for simple tasks. You will also have a perspective which will help in understanding the rest of the system.
 
] Using macsyma is a detailed guide to the features in this algebraic manipulation system.

] macsyma Reference is a quick directory of macsyma commands and a glossary of terms used in this manual.

] macsyma Applications is a compendium of sample programs.

A separate volume, A Guide to the macsyma Implementation provides details of the construction of the macsyma program itself.  This may be of interest to you if you  have access to the source code and wish to extend or modify the program.
^K^LIf youM-I	See:
M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->
Are new to UnixM-* or your operating system	Your introductory documentation or
	Your system manager
Need help in setting up your workstation
environment

Need to learn to edit text or deal with files
M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->
Have never used algebraic manipulation programs	Learning Macsyma chapters 1-3

Need an overview of Macsyma 
M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->
Need information on some functionality	Using Macsyma, chapters 
M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->
Need details about a specific command	Macsyma Reference, chapters 

Are unfamiliar with a term used	Macsyma Reference  Glossary
M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->
Need examples for writing programs	Macsyma Applications, chapters 

Need canned solutions to common problems

Need help in optimizing resource usage
M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->
Need to delve into the system implementation	A Guide to the Macsyma 
	Implementation, and source code
	if available.
M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->M->


^LGetting Started

To use macsyma you will first have to find a computer system on which it is installed.  Although macsyma can run on a wide variety of machine configurations, performance improves dramatically as available physical memory increases to 5 megabytes.  Further performance increases, although usually less dramatic, will generally be available for larger memories. On networked workstation systems, a local disk is not necessary, although it may also increase performance. 

 If you expect to be using macsyma  frequently, you should include in your .login script, a line setting the system variable MACSYMA to the M-Rhome directoryM-S for macsyma documentation and programs.  For example, assuming your system manager installed the directory in the usual place,  your .login file should have the line  

setenv MACSYMA /usr/mac

If you are starting afresh with this, you should add this to your .login file, and also type it in directly.

Again, assuming your system manager installed the program in a directory included in your M-RpathM-S variable, in your M-RshellM-S macsyma may be loaded by typing macsyma (and then a return) at the % shell prompt. If this does not work, you could try typing a complete pathname such as /usr/local/macsyma . If this still does not work, your computer system manager, or whoever installed the macsyma system shouldbe able to help.
 These instructions assume you are using the usual M-RC-shellM-S command-line interpreter. If you are using the M-RBourne shell,M-S you will have to perform analogout tasks.  In particular, you should insert in your .profile file the following line:
MACSYMA = /usr/mac

and then also execute the line by typing it in immediately.

 In either case, you should then be set up to star up a macsyma. A few seconds after typing macsyma your computer display should resemble the text below

% macsyma (this is what you typed)
macsyma 314.9
June 3, 1986
(c) 1986 Franz Inc. For copyright information type rights();
(c1)
 
If you do not see something resembling this, perhaps with different version numbers and date, but necessarily ending with a  (c1), you should see a system consultant.  If macsyma  detects some problems in your environment, you may get a warning message at this time.

 The number 314.9 is a version identification number which will change from time to time, as will the listed day and date of the system construction. The label (c1) is a name being assigned automatically to your first command.