Thermodynamics: Introduction to Maple

This extended section can be found on the website www.cambridge.org/kleinandnellis. Maple is an application that can be used to analytically solve algebraic and differential equations. The capability to differentiate, integrate and algebraically manipulate mathematical expressions in symbolic form can be a very powerful aid in solving many types of engineering problems, including some thermodynamics problems. Maple also provides a very convenient mathematical reference; if, for example, you've forgotten that the derivative of sine is cosine, it is easy to use Maple to quickly provide this information. Therefore, Maple can replace the numerous mathematical reference books that might otherwise be required to carry out all of the integration, differentiation, simplification, etc. that is required to solve many engineering problems. Maple and EES can be used effectively together; Maple can determine the analytical solution to a problem and these symbolic expressions can subsequently be copied (almost directly) into EES for convenient numerical evaluation and manipulation in the context of a specific application. This appendix summarizes the commands that are the most useful for thermodynamics problems.