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### 44.1 Introduction to dynamics

The additional package `dynamics` includes several functions to create various graphical representations of discrete dynamical systems and fractals, and an implementation of the Runge-Kutta 4th-order numerical method for solving systems of differential equations.

To use the functions in this package you must first load it with `load("dynamics")`.

Starting with Maxima 5.12, the dynamics package now uses the function `plot2d` to do the graphs. The commands that produce graphics (with the exception of `julia` and `mandelbrot`) now accept any options of `plot2d`, including the option to change among the various graphical interfaces, using different plot styles and colors, and representing one or both axes in a logarithmic scale. The old options domain, pointsize, xcenter, xradius, ycenter, yradius, xaxislabel and yaxislabel are not accepted in this new version.

All programs will now accept any variables names, and not just x and y as in the older versions. Two required parameters have changes in two of the programs: `evolution2d` now requires a list naming explicitely the two independent variables, and the horizontal range for `orbits` no longer requires a step size; the range should only specify the variable name, and the minimum and maximum values; the number of steps can now be changed with the option nticks.

Next: Functions and Variables for dynamics, Previous: dynamics, Up: dynamics [Contents][Index]