A number of computers software packages have been developed for assisting in mathematics on computer. The most simple of these are the spreadsheets such as Excel and Quattro Pro , which can be used for a numerical development of tables and to plot graphs. Spreadsheets can be useful for numerical problems such as accounting or experimental data.
Along the same lines, but much more advanced is Matlab . Problems in Science, Engineering and Numerical Mathematics can often be expressed in terms of systems of matrices and vectors. The solution or properies of these systems reveal the solution or properties of the problem that is being analysed. Matlab, or matrix laboratory provides an environment for users to develop solutions to problems using matrices and vectors.
Although word processors such as Microsoft Word or Latex can be used for creating mathematically-rich documents, there are a number of packages that can assist with the development of such documents. Two examples are Mathcad and Scientific Workplace
Other packages concentrate on symbolic rather that computational mathematics: Mathematica , Maple and Derive .