mathjs/docs/getting_started.md

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# Getting Started
This getting started describes how to install, load, and use math.js.
## Install
Math.js can be installed using npm, bower, or by just downloading the library.
*WARNING: math.js is in early stage and the API is not yet stabilized.
Please be careful when upgrading to a newer version.
An overview of the changes is available
[here](https://github.com/josdejong/mathjs/blob/master/HISTORY.md).*
### npm
Math.js can be installed using [npm](https://npmjs.org/):
npm install mathjs
Note: when installed globally (using the `-g` option), math.js is available as
a command line application `mathjs`, see section
[command line interface](https://github.com/josdejong/mathjs/blob/master/docs/command_line_interface.md).
### bower
Or using [bower](http://twitter.github.io/bower/):
bower install mathjs
### download
Or by downloading the latest version from
[mathjs.org](http://mathjs.org/#install_or_download):
- [math.js](http://mathjs.org/js/lib/math.js) (Development version)
- [math.min.js](http://mathjs.org/js/lib/math.min.js) (Production version)
## Load
### Node.js
Load math.js in [node.js](http://nodejs.org/):
```js
var math = require('mathjs');
math.sqrt(-4); // 2i
```
### Browser
Math.js can be loaded as a regular javascript file in the browser:
```html
<!DOCTYPE HTML>
<html>
<head>
<script src="math.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
</head>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
math.sqrt(-4); // 2i
</script>
</body>
</html>
```
### Require.js
Load math.js in the browser using [require.js](http://requirejs.org/):
```js
require.config({
paths: {
mathjs: 'path/to/mathjs',
}
});
require(['mathjs'], function (math) {
math.sqrt(-4); // 2i
});
```
## Use
Math.js can be used similar to JavaScript's built-in Math library. Besides that,
math.js can evaluate expressions (see [Expressions](https://github.com/josdejong/mathjs/blob/master/docs/expressions.md)) and supports
chained operations (see [Chained operations](https://github.com/josdejong/mathjs/blob/master/docs/chained_operations.md)).
The example code below shows how to use math.js. More examples can be found in the
[examples directory](https://github.com/josdejong/mathjs/tree/master/examples/).
```js
// load math.js
var math = require('mathjs');
// functions and constants
math.round(math.e, 3); // 2.718
math.atan2(3, -3) / math.pi; // 0.75
math.log(1000, 10); // 3
math.sqrt(-4); // 2i
math.pow([[-1, 2], [3, 1]], 2); // [[7, 0], [0, 7]]
// expressions
math.eval('12 / (2.3 + 0.7)'); // 4
math.eval('5.08 cm in inch'); // 2 inch
math.eval('sin(45 deg) ^ 2'); // 0.5
math.eval('9 / 3 + 2i'); // 3 + 2i
math.eval('det([-1, 2; 3, 1])'); // -7
// chained operations
math.select(3)
.add(4)
.multiply(2)
.done(); // 14
```