Schaum's Outline of Mathematica, Second Edition

I agree, this book should be included with Mathematica. It's concise, to the point. Builds topics in logical steps with multiple examples and worked through problems. Most of the stuff that applies works in later versions of Mathematica but it's a simple matter within Mathematica to find out how the dated procedures can be done in the newer versions. I have the latest version and have no problem using this book. The price alone makes it well worth it. If you want to get started quickly and progress rapidly you definitely should buy this book!

This is an excellent introductory book on Mathematica. If you need to learn some basic features of this language, it is the best tool. The author did not spend too much time on theory. The rules and syntax are explained very clearly with illustrative examples. Of course, the theory may first sound very dry and dull, but once you follow the examples, you will see that things will settle in your mind easily. Clear, concise and effective discussion of the topics makes your job easy and enjoyable. The best way to learn and explore various features is to try to modify the parameters in the examples. Make use of your own creativity to discover new features. In many examples, the same outcome can be obtained by several different ways. This book, in general, covers the fundamentals of the language, but it is sufficient to use differentiation, integration, 2D and 3D graphics, differential equations, linear algebra, etc. Mathematica, certainly, is quite a sophisticated language, there are many more intricate features. For more advanced features, please try "Mastering Mathematica" by John W. Gray.

This is an excellent book. The authors cover everything from basic algebra and equations through calculus and differential equations, all using mathematica 4. It doesn't really explain why the program works the way it does, but it doesn't have any need to, since it is an introductory book. This book is basically formatted so you can learn by example. The author explains that he sees this as the best way to learn the program, and so you get 750 examples and solved problems. Most useful chapters: 2D graphics 3D graphics Multivariable calculus All the chapters are good, those just stand out. The learn-by-example setup works very well here, and there is an index so you can go to whatever topic you need. True, it may not have the level of depth some people desire, but that is what Trott's book is for. All in all, this is the best place to start with mathematica (worth $12 and then some). I recommend Trott's programming guidebook when you finish this book. Even though I have Trott, I still reference this ALL the time, because it's easier to find what you need for less complex topics. Great book!!

This is an excellent book for people who are new to Mathematica. It gets right to the point by providing hundreds of examples showing how to use Mathematica to solve problems ranging from basic arithmetic through calculus, ordinary differential equations and linear algebra. It also clearly shows how to use Mathematica to draw 2D and 3D graphs. This book is an excellent supplement to the Mathematica Book, which is included on the Mathematica CD.

This is an excellent introduction to Mathematica. I have suggested that they include this with each copy of the software and offer it (free?) to prospective buyers. A great review of the basic aspects of a very extensive software application.