Computations

While alternate coordinate systems can be really useful at times (especially in integration), you do have to be careful when working with them.  Standard vector operations work differently in non-Cartesian coordinate systems.  However, you can always transform everything into Cartesian coordinates and do the work there if necessary. Fortunately, Mathematica automagically does most of the grunt work for you on this.  Mathematica also has special versions of these operations that work in these different coordinate systems.

Created by Mathematica  (October 18, 2004)