This is how you will verify for me that you have learned at least some set of the basic operational skills for Maple during this lab. In the process I am also asking you to begin developing your communication skills by learning how to present your work in Maple clearly.
1) One of the features of Maple (and the other math engines) that has changed over the last few versions is the format of execution groups and plain text. I'm not completely sure I know what a reasonable industry expectation is these days. We will discuss these format expectations in class. I do expect that your worksheet will execute successfully when I open it (remove all blue Maple output from worksheet before saving it - see the discussion folder for clues to how to accomplish this). Short comments and descriptions will preceed and follow each significant task in the worksheet. Create a heading which gives the names of your lab group, the title of the lab, the course name, and the date of completion. Each task in this skills assignment should be in it's own section. Sections have drop down arrows like those in the Maple intro worksheet.
2) Define a variable called zurflu14 and assign the function Ae-kt to this variable. Set A = 2.4.104 and k = 5.5 .10-3. Evaluate zurflu14 at t =300. Structure your worksheet so that I can easily evaluate zurflu14 at a different time (I will do this in your worksheet!)
3) In section 3 of your worksheet show by example the relationship between half life of this material (t1/2) and k. You will of course describe this example so that it is clear what is going on:) I am assuming that in your past math life (recent or distant) that you have worked with this mathematical expression and recognize it as describing radioactive decay. If you are not sure what a "half life" is I would hope that you would google it and learn. In this section I want you to use Maple to plug in different values of t until you identify the time at which the function "zurflu14" has the appropriate value. In your research about half lives you will probably trip over a mathematical statement of the relationship between t1/2 and k that should involve the ln(2). Check to be sure your t1/2 and k have this relationship.
4) In section 4 determine the symbolic derivative and integral of zurflu14 and assign them the names dzurf and izurf respectively. Evaluate these expressions at t = 720. Be sure that your results are easily readable and interpretable meaning and are symbolic. The functions dzurf and izurf should have no numbers (symbols only) just as if you had taken the derivative or integral (idefinite) in your math class. You will undoubtedly find that you need to start this section of your worksheet with a "restart:" command to get this to happen.
5) In section 5 plot the quadratic function y=Ax^2-kx+2 on x = [-5,5] in red or blue with A = 4 and k = 3. The enthusiastic student will spend a moment to figure out how to draw the plot in some color other than blue or red:) Export the plot as a jpg or pdf and turn it in with group names.