The Use of the Package "Mathematica" in Teaching of Mathematics in Riga Technical University

In Riga Technical University at the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology the teaching model was changed over the last three years. Five Latvian universities, including Riga Technical University, have completed the European ESF project “Introduction of the computer mathematical systems into teaching process in universities”. Within the framework of this project and under the support of ESF the licensed software “MATHEMATICA” was obtained and used in teaching of mathematics. In addition, user manuals were developed. The first year students of the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology take the two-semester course “High mathematics” (6 and 5 academic hours per week in each of two semesters, respectively). All mathematical subjects considered at lectures and tutorials are also considered at lab sessions using the package MATHEMATICA. Students learn basic commands of MATHEMATICA so that they are able to solve equations and systems of equations, to perform operations with matrices and vectors, to calculate limits and derivatives, to solve differential equations and so on. The lab sessions bring innovation into teaching of mathematics and make it more attractive. The results of the students’ survey show that students appreciate this introduction of labs into teaching of mathematics. Moreover, they readily use the package MATHEMATICA not only in the course of “Higher Mathematics”, but also in other subjects related to mathematics