Maple is available for Sun and SGI workstations. It is also available for Linux, and SIPB supports Linux-specific questions via the linux-help@mit.edu mailing list. For people that have their own Mac or Windows computers, Maple is also available inexpensively through the MCC. To start Maple on Athena you can invoke it either from Dash or from the Athena prompt by typing: athena% add maple athena% maple This will bring up the graphical "worksheet interface" version if you are running X, or a TTY version if you're not (to use the TTY version under X, type add maple; maple.tty). When the prompt appears (">"), you can type in commands. In the TTY version, you can use the cursor keys for command-recall; in the X version, you can use the mouse or cursor keys to go back and edit previous commands. In both versions, you can enter multiple commands on a single line, as long as each one is terminated. Commands must be terminated with either a semicolon (";") for normal display or a colon (":") to suppress display of output. In the TTY version, Maple doesn't care how many lines you type; it wait until you type ":" or ";" to evaluate the entire input. In the X version, the Return key triggers evaluation: you will see the message "Warning, premature end of input" if you enter a line without a terminator. To fix this, either go back and add a ";" or ":" to the line, or just type one at the next prompt. To quit Maple in the TTY version, type: > quit; To quit Maple in the X version, go to the File menu and select Exit (the quit command closes the current worksheet). Maple Vr5 no longer contains a tutorial, but there is a "New User's Tour" which can be run in the X version from the Help menu (upper right corner). For more help, see the next answer.