Math 2600/5600 * Linear Algebra * Fall 2015

Computer Resources

Thanks to the developers of FPC, the Free Pascal Compiler, which allowed me to recompile my ancient Turbo Pascal code for modern systems. Thanks also to Zach Gaslowitz for compiling the Mac executables (October 2015).

The LA computer program

LA is a command-line program for manipulating matrices and vectors. Use your browser to download the appropriate executable (use the "Save Link As ..." or equivalent menu item) and print the help file.

• 32-bit Windows .EXE file for LA (version 1.01, last changed 24th August 2015) for Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10 (32-bit version works on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems). Run in "Command Prompt" window.
• 32-bit Mac Intel-based executable for LA (version 1.01, last changed 24th August 2015). Rename to "la" and put somewhere on your path, e.g., in /usr/local/bin. Run in "Terminal" window.
• Help file for LA program (PDF file; last changed 24th August 2015).
• If you wish to use LA from the Microcomputer Laboratories of the College of Arts and Science choose "Start" then "All Programs" then "Educational Software" then "Ellingham" then "la". (This works as of September 2015.) You may wish to change the window properties (click on the icon at left on the window bar and choose "Properties" from the menu). Choose the "Layout" tab. You can make "Window Height" larger so you can see more (about 50 is good) and "Screen Buffer Height" larger so you can see what's gone off the screen (about 200 is good).

The LAM computer program

LAM is a modified version of LA. LA does arithmetic using rational numbers, while LAM works with numbers modulo a given integer n. In particular, if n is a prime, then the numbers modulo n form a field in which we can do linear algebra.

• 32-bit Windows .EXE file for LAM (version 1.01, last changed 24th August 2015) for Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10 (32-bit version works on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems). Run in "Command Prompt" window.
• 32-bit Mac Intel-based executable for LAM (version 1.01, last changed 24th August 2015). Rename to "lam" and put somewhere on your path, e.g., in /usr/local/bin. Run in "Terminal" window.
• Help file for LAM program (PDF file; last changed 15th March 1991).
• As of September 2015, LAM is not available from the Microcomputer Laboratories of the College of Arts and Science. This will be remedied at some point.

The LSYS computer program

LSYS has some known minor bugs. In particular, if you try to use a system of equations that is too big then the program may fail without giving you a warning. This will be fixed if I ever get time!

LSYS is a command-line program for manipulating linear systems of equations. Use your browser to download the appropriate executable and help file (use the "Save Link As ..." or equivalent menu item).

• 32-bit Windows .EXE file for LSYS (version 0.15, last changed 24th November 2012) for Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10 (32-bit version works on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems). Run in "Command Prompt" window.
• 32-bit Mac Intel-based executable for LSYS (version 0.15, last changed 24th November 2012) Rename to "lsys" and put somewhere on your path, e.g., in /usr/local/bin. Run in "Terminal" window.
• Help file for LSYS program (text file; last changed 31st October 2000).
• If you wish to use LSYS from the Microcomputer Laboratories of the College of Arts and Science, follow the same steps as for LA, except choose "lsys" at the last step. (This works as of September 2015.)