What Programming Language Or Software Should I Learn?

I am studying Algebra and want to later on move to Calculus. I need a mental approach to algebra and calculus. I want to do all the math in my head and type the results on a keyboard and then verify and correct, just as I would do with arythmetic multiplications table etc.





So I was thinking of writing my own mental algebra and mental calculus software, with graphics display, keyboard and mouse events.





Should I learn Java, would this work with Windows XP and later on Vista ?





Or is there a software that aldready exists to will help me train in mental algebra and mental calculus.





I just hate the pencil and paper approach to mathematics, too boring, too time consuming and too endumbing. I type for a living, so I master the keyboard.





Math training should be in my head and at my fingertips.

What Programming Language Or Software Should I Learn?
Ouch.





If you've never done programming before, you probably don't want to try something like an algebra or calculus parsing program. I've tried it, and i can tell you - it's a headache and a half.





But there's good news!





There's software for free (unlike mathmatica or others) on the internet that does what you're looking for.


It's called "Maxima". It's very good software. There's a bit of a learning curve to it, but nothing compared to trying to actually make a program like this.





Go here to get it:





http://maxima.sourceforge.net/download.s...
Reply:Get a graphics calculator. Texas Instruments TI-83 or higher will work well, though TI-89 is probably a lot more than you need. They can handle a ton of different mathematical functions, and they also allow you to write programs on them (or download programs from the web).





If you're dead-set on using the computer, there are emulators of this model calculator available (again, through the TI site) to help write programs on the computer before transfering them to your calculator.
Reply:visual c++ its easy to learn
Reply:Try Mathematica.
Reply:How about Python? It flowed from FORTRAN, which was the ultimate geek language in the 70's, 80's, and well into the 90's.





It's a great language to learn programming, and it's high level, which means that you can develop ideas quickly, without a large number of steps for one operation.





Note that for some of this, you will essentially be learning how to get an answer, instead of the true theory and structure. You may not be to that level yet, but by precalculus, you should understand that the concept and the "steps" of solution is more important than the solution itself.
Reply:Some of the above answers are good but my answer is the most complete:





I suggest Maple, Mathematica or Matlab.


Matlab has a programming language that anyone can learn.





And btw, I have been using VC++ for many years - I can tell you it is by no means an easy language to learn. In fact it should never have been invented. It is not much better than C and has made the lives of many programmers sheer hell. If you must learn C++, be sure to learn C first. Good luck!
Reply:There are some powerful math programs included in main Linux distros. You could contribute to them instead of starting from scratch. Ask on www.justlinux.com this same question except ask for Linux math programs. since they are usually open source, you can modify and improve them to the maximum of your ability.
Reply:maple, mathematica, mathcad





you don't need a programming language, you need a math program. the above ones are the best ones i've seen.

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