CS99 Fall 2000: Topics for Prelim 1

Definition and concepts of programming
- computers as tools
- programming as problem solving
- top-down philosophy
- algorithms

Computer Rudiments
- software
- hardware
- files
- I/O

Languages
- semantics
- syntax

Maple language
- language elements
- tokens

Tokens
- know the kinds
- building expressions

Operators
- arithmetic
- predence
- associativity
- using parentheses

Names
- uses
- rules for creating
- variables
- backquotes
- differences with Reserved Words and protected names

Statements
- definition
- analogy with sentences
- punctuations
- overall syntax of
  expression and assignment

Worksheets
- kernel modes
- file management
- finding help

Evaluation
- expression trees
- automatic simplification
- full evaluation
  (understand this thoroughly!)
- how evaluation works with assignments
- unevaluation for removing assignments

Expressions
- definition of type
- trees
- surface type
- structured type
- Real Numbers
  integers = whole numbers
  fractions = ratio of two integers
  rationals numbers = integers + fractions
  floats, decimals
  arithmetic: 
  rounding
  irrational numbers
- Complex Numbers
- Extended Numerics
- Boolean Expressions
  Logic:
  + operators: and, or, not
  + values: true, false
  Relations:
  + for comparisons
  + <,>,<>,=
  + expr rel expr
  Boolean
  + logical or relational expr
  + evalb(expr) -> evaluate truth of expr
- Multiple expressions
  + ranges
  + sequences 
  + lists
  + sets
  + selection
- Names
  Indexing: resembles selection, no assignment in name
  Symbolic Constants: constants yields false, true, infinity,...
  Protected Names: predefined names
  Greek Letters: not really a type, but something built-in
- Miscellaneous
  Strings
  Functions

Functions
- basics of syntax
- simulating with assignment

Some functions covered/seen so far:
type, whattype, evalb, evalf, sqrt, plot, exp, restart, Float, Complex