About the Book
This Computer Algebra Handbook gives a comprehensive snapshot of this field at the intersection of mathematics and computer science with applications in physics, engineering and education. It contains both theory, systems and practice of the discipline of symbolic computation and computer algebra. With the wide angle of a "lense" of about 200 contributors it shows the state of computer algebra research and applications in the last decade of the twentieth century. Aside from discussing the foundations of computer algebra, the handbook describes 67 software systems and packages that perform tasks in symbolic computation. In addition, the handbook offers 100 pages on applications in physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering chemistry and education. The book is accompanied by a CD-ROM, containing demo versions for most of the computer algebra systems treated in the book, as well as links to further information on some of these. This book will be very useful as a reference to graduate students and researchers in symbolic computation and computer algebra.
Table of Contents:
1 Development, Characterization, Prospects.- 1.1 Historical Remarks.- 1.2 General Characterization.- 1.3 Impact on Education.- 1.4 Impact on Research.- 1.5 Computer Algebra — Today and Tomorrow.- 2 Topics of Computer Algebra.- 2.1 Exact Arithmetic.- 2.2 Algorithms for Polynomials and Power Series.- 2.3 Linear Algebra.- 2.4 Constructive Methods of Number Theory.- 2.5 Algorithms of Commutative Algebra and Algebraic Geometry.- 2.6 Algorithmic Aspects of the Theory of Algebras.- 2.7 Computational Group Theory.- 2.8 Algorithms of Representation Theory.- 2.9 Algebraic Methods for Constructing Discrete Structures.- 2.10 Summation and Integration.- 2.11 Symbohc Methods for DiflFerential Equations.- 2.12 Symbolic/Numeric Methods.- 2.13 Algebraic Complexity Theory.- 2.14 Coding Theory and Cryptography.- 2.15 Algorithmic Methods inUniversal Algebra and Logic.- 2.16 Knowledge Representation and Abstract Data Types.- 2.17 On the Design of Computer Algebra Systems.- 2.18 Parahel Computer Algebra Systems.- 2.19 Interfaces and Standardization.- 2.20 Hardware Implementation of Computer Algebra Algorithms.- 3 Applications of Computer Algebra.- 3.1 Physics.- 3.2 Mathematics.- 3.3 Computer Science.- 3.4 Engineering.- 3.5 Chemistry.- 3.6 Computer Algebra in Education.- 4 Computer Algebra Systems.- 4.1 General Purpose Systems.- 4.2 Special Purpose Systems.- 4.3 Packages.- 5 Meetings and Publications.- 5.1 Conferences and Proceedings.- 5.2 Books on Computer Algebra.- Cited References.- Index for Authors’ Contributions.
Review :
From the reviews:
"This is a substantially enlarged report originally covering the state and future of computer algebra in Germany. ... Overall, it gives a high-level (in the sense of abstraction; no theorems, let alone proofs, are in general provided) autoritative overview of what is going on and should be of help to poeple looking for a research topic, software for specific problems or, later on, writing on the history of the subject."
H.Muthsam, Monatshefte für Mathematik 142, issue 2, p. 170, 2004
"This handbook is very impressive. Written by more than two hundred spcialists, this international eidition of a previous German report presents the state of the art of a large field of computational mathematics called computer algebra. .... So, as Bob Caviness says in the preface of the book, "Gentle reader, I recommend this volume and all its concepts, symbols, and algorihtms to you."
J.M.Ollagnier, Mathematical Reviews Clippings from Issue 2004h
"This encyclopaedic book is a wonderful source of information on computer algebra. ... Although most people who come to this book will probably use it as an encyclopaedia, it is much more than that. Researchers in coputer algebra will benefit from the extensive bibliography, and lecturers will find it a mine of ideas for interesting topics that might be discussed in a course on computer algebra and its applications. Finally, to all computer algebra aficionados this book will also provide wonderful entertainment for many a rainy day."
S.C.Coutinho, The Mathematical Gazette Vol. 88, Issue 512 (2004) 410-411
"... A handbook must be considered as well-composed if it addresses "all" issues of the area and if its individual articles provide rough surveys of their subject and point the reader to the relevant recent literature. From this point of view, this Computer Algebra Handbook is certainly well-composed: To strangers of the area it offers easy gatheringof information about a particular subject (to be located either through the Table of Contents or the Subject Index"; to experts in computer algebra, it provides access to subjects outside their expertise. ... The team of editors must be congratulated upon succeeding in collecting contributions of more than 200 authors which make a concise and homogeneous volume."
H.Stetter, IMN - Internationale Mathematische Nachrichten 194, 2003
"... The interesting focus of the book is the fact that the editors have been able to encourage about 200 specialsit on different branches of the subject to contribute to the project. ... In fact it is a handbook of present day status of computer algebra. It may serve as an encyclopedia of computer algebra for an interested user. Moreover it might be useful for any potential user to consult the book for the presnet day status of the problems he has in mind. So it could be helpful to pursue her or his own work by integrating methods from computer algebra. One should be grateful to the editors to organize this amount of work in order to integrate the international computer algebra community for such an anlysis of the present day state of the field."
P.Schenzel, Zentralblatt für Mathematik 1017.68162, 2003
"In fact it is a handbook of present day status of the computer algebra. It may serve as an encyclopedia of computer algebra for an interested user. … So it could be helpful to pursue her or his own work by integrating methods from computer algebra. One should be grateful to the editors to organize this amount of work in order to integrate the international computer algebra community for such an analysis of the present day state of the field." (Peter Schenzel, Zentralblatt MATH, Issue 1017, 2003)
"This is a substantially enlarged report originally covering the state and future of computer algebra in Germany. … Overall, it gives a high-level … authoritative overview of what is going on andshould be of help to people looking for a research topic, software for specific problems or, later on, writing on the history of the subject." (H. Muthsam, Monatshefte für Mathematik, Vol. 143 (2), 2004)
"This encyclopaedic book is a wonderful source of information on computer algebra. … Although most people who come to this book will probably use it as an encyclopaedia, it is much more than that. Researchers in computer algebra will benefit from the extensive bibliography, and lecturers will find in it a mine of ideas for interesting topics that might be discussed in a course … . Finally, to all computer algebra aficionados this book will also provide wonderful entertainment for many a rainy day." (S. C. Coutinho, The Mathematical Gazette, Vol. 88 (512), 2004)
"This handbook is very impressive. Written by more than two hundred specialists, this international edition of a previous German report presents the state of the art of a large field of computational mathematics called computer algebra. Both aspects of this wide domain are well described. … So, as Bob Caviness says in the preface of the book, ‘Gentle reader, I recommend this volume and all its concepts, symbols, and algorithms to you.’" (Jean Moulin Ollagnier, Mathematical Reviews, 2004 h)
"A handbook must be considered as well-composed if it addresses ‘all’ issues of the area and if its individual articles provide rough surveys of their subject and point the reader to the relevant recent literature. From this point of view, this Computer Algebra Handbook is certainly well-composed … . The team of editors must be congratulated upon succeeding in collecting contributions of more than 200 authors which make a concise and homogeneous volume." (H. Stetter, Internationale Mathematische Nachrichten, Issue 194, 2003)
“This is a handbook on computer algebra that intends to be as complete as possible, taking into account the large amount of available computer software.The book shows the state of research and applications in the last decade of the twentieth century. … There are over 200 contributing authors … resulting in a diversity of styles and concepts. … a useful handbook both for experts and non-experts, and it could have a broader impact thanks to the diversity of multiple authorship.” (Paula Bruggen, Bulletin of the Belgian Mathematical Society, 2007)
