The Use of Computer Algebra Systems in Computer Science Education*

Every student of Computer Science will encounter certain very important and fundamental data structures and algorithms. Many of those structures are relatively simple to understand conceptually, but exceedingly difficult to analyze, especially when average behavior is taken into account. Therefore, if students are to choose the best algorithm for a problem or optimize the parameters of an algorithm, they are faced with mathematical challenges beyond their means. We suggest that Computer Algebra tools can make a dramatic difference in the ability of students to analyze very common algorithms and data structures and make meaningful design decisions when implementing such structures. Initial studies in the classroom support our suggestion.