Mathematics is a participatory "sport" not a spectator "sport." The only way to learn mathematics and to learn how to use mathematics is by doing and using mathematics. These modules are interactive. You are expected to be an active participant not a passive reader. Often your participation will involve working with one of the computer algebra systems -- Maple, Mathematics, MathCad, or the TI-92. You will frequently see the following "buttons" in a navigation frame at the top of your browser window.

Clicking on one of the icons will load one of the the following CAS programs.

• Mathematica
• Maple
• MathCad
• TI-92

As you work you will want to switch back-and-forth between your CAS system and your other work. We recommend that the first time you use your CAS that you set up your screen with two windows slightly offset as shown in the picture below. Then you can switch back-and-forth between the two by clicking on the window you want to use.

Maple has excellent online help. You can access this online help by choosing Maple Help from the Windows menu. The picture below shows the Maple help window as it appears on the Macintosh.

This window provides two ways of finding help.

• If you aren't sure of the procedure you need the best place to start is in the far left column. The picture above shows a typical search for graphics help. First, we clicked on Graphics in the column at the far left. This brought up the second column offering graphics help. In the second column we clicked on 2D which brought up the third column offering help on various two-dimensional graphing topics. Finally we clicked on plot selecting help on the plot procedure. This did not bring up any additional choices. Now you can either click the Help button or double click on plot to bring up a window with plot help.

• By clicking on the Keyword Search button you can find help windows that mention a "keyword" of your choice.