Experimental mathematics using APL and graphics
Charles Haspel, Alphonse Thomas Vasquez · 1982
Mathematics is ordinarily done by examining computations to extract likely conjectures. Only later are the conjectures proved, and, in traditional practice, the computations and motivations suppressed. We describe a computational investigation of the geometry of fundamental domains and units in totally real algebraic number fields. Our approach requires the finding of convex hulls in three dimensional space and their display and manipulation. APL and graphics are used for this purpose and appear to be essential for any practical pursuit of this approach.