Speaking of programming with Python .. here is a cool OpenSource,
cross platform application mentioned on the eChalk list by a University of Washington mathematician
to replace the Maths software used in education and research with a
free, open-source
version. Around than 100 mathematicians around the world are
collaborating to develop the tool. <br>
<br>
"SAGE for studying a huge
range of mathematics, including algebra,
calculus, elementary to very advanced
number theory, cryptography, numerical computation,
commutative algebra, group theory, combinatorics,
graph theory, and exact linear algebra."<br>
<br>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;"><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://uwnews.washington.edu/ni/article.asp?articleID=38459" target="_blank">http://uwnews.washington.edu/ni/article.asp?articleID=38459
</a><br>
<a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.sagemath.org/" target="_blank">http://www.sagemath.org/</a><br>
</div>
<br>
>From what I can see on this slideshow, students write Python scripted programs with SAGE that combine serious mathematics with
anything else and view the output with a Firefox web browser. <br>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sagescreenshots/sets/72157603532209437/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/sagescreenshots/sets/72157603532209437/</a><br><br>
We have Python and Firefox on our computer image deployed at school, I must check out the value of SAGE for our maths staff. Reminds me of learning Fortran as a biochemist. Fun days with
real science, huge computers and lots of punched cards. :-)<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au">http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au
</a><br><br>"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead