1.1 Introduction

The following is a collection of synonyms for various operations in the computer algebra systems Aldor, Axiom, CoCoA, Derive, DoCon, GAP, Giac, GiNaC, Gmp, Macsyma, Magnus, Maple, Mathcad, Mathematica, Maxima, MuPAD, Octave, Pari, Reduce, Sum^it, Singular and Yacas. This collection does not attempt to be comprehensive, but hopefully it will be useful in giving an indication of how to translate between the syntaxes used by the different systems in many common situations. Note that a blank entry means either (a) that there may be an exact translation of a particular operation for the indicated system, but we don't know what it is or (b) there is no exact translation but it may still be possible to work around this lack with a related functionality.

While commercial systems are not provided on the Rosetta CDs, the intent of the Rosetta effort is to make it possible for experienced Computer Algebra users to experiment with other systems. Thus the commands for commercial systems are included to allow users of those systems to translate.

The tables do not cover the full range of functionality and are slanted in favor of general purpose, interactive systems. Some of these systems are special purpose and do not support a lot of the functionality of the more general purpose systems. Where they do support an interpreter the commands are provided. Some systems are primarily development tools rather than interpreters and are not represented in some tables.

Originally written by Michael Wester. Modified for Rosetta by Timothy Daly, Alexander Hulpke (GAP), Hans Schoenemann (Singular), Serge Mechveliani (DoCon), Ayal Pinkus (Yacas) and Michel Lavaud (index and French translation).