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Publishing News
By Nathan McCoy
September 21, 2007
Dr. Otto Wilke, mathematics professor at Texas State
Technical College Waco, recently completed his first textbook, Contemporary
Math I Using Maple or TI-89, for his Contemporary Math I classes at TSTC.
Maple is a computer algebra system that was first developed at the
University of Waterloo in Canada. The program is used in Contemporary Math
I to solve problems in the areas covered in class such as modern algebra,
geometry and probability.
"For two or three decades, we've been using computer programs to solve any
equations," Wilke said. "Maple is by far the easiest to use and the cheapest
to buy."
Contemporary Math I covers a broad area of math topics that include algebra,
geometry, logarithms and basic trigonometry. Wilke said it is more of a
survey class that covers many topics briefly, whereas classes at TSTC like
College Algebra or Trigonometry cover specific topics in depth.
Before Wilke's textbook, there were math books that touched on Maple usage,
but no math book had been written specifically to explain how to do the
problems using Maple software. Wilke said he wrote the textbook so students
would be able to use Maple properly in order to work problems associated
with the particular course.
"I want students to be familiar with the best and latest tool for doing
mathematical calculations—and that's Maple," Wilke said.
Wilke began using Maple around 1990 with version two of the program. Maple
is currently in its eleventh version, released in early 2007.
The book also includes instruction on how to work problems with a TI-89
calculator accompanied by screen shots from the calculator.
Maple has many practical uses, Wilke said. He said he uses written programs
in Maple to randomize the exams he gives to his students so no two tests are
alike. He also holds a patent for a program he wrote in Maple that adjusts
airplane holding patterns in the event of strong crosswinds.
Wilke received his Ph.D. in engineering at Texas A&M University. He did
research for 10 years before going to Baylor University Dental School.
After practicing dentistry for 10 years, he came to teach mathematics at
TSTC Waco, where he has taught nearly every math class in his 18 years on
staff.
© 2007 TSTC Publishing
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