The first edition of this book has been very well received by the community. The new version 4 of Maple V contains so many new mathematical features and improvements in the user interface that Waterloo Maple Inc. markets it as "the Power Edition. " These two facts have made it necessary to write a second edition within a short period of the first. I corrected typographical errors, rephrased text, updated and improved many examples, and added much new material. Hardly any chapter has been left untouched. Substan tially changed or added sections and chapters address the assume facility, I/O, approximation theory, integration, composite data types, simplifica tion, graphics, differential equations, and matrix algebra. Tables summa rize features, command options, etc. , and constitute a quick reference. The enlarged index of the book has been carefully compiled to make locating search items quick and easy. Many new examples have been included show ing how to use Maple as a problem solver, how to assist the system during computations, and how to extend its built-in facilities. About the Maple Version Used The second edition of this book is fully revised and updated to Maple V Release 4. More precisely, the second edition of this book was produced with Maple V Release 4, beta 3 on a SUN SPARCstation 20, Model 71. There should be hardly any difference between this beta version and the final release; only minor differences in the user interface are not excluded.
