Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

symbolic mathematics
     
         (Or "symbolic math") The use of
        computers to manipulate mathematical equations and expressions
        in symbolic form, as opposed to manipulating the numerical
        quantities represented by those symbols.  Such a system might
        be used for symbolic integration or differentiation,
        substitution of one expression into another, simplification of
        an expression, change of subject etc.
     
        One of the best known symbolic mathematics software packages
        is {Mathematica}.  Others include {ALAM}, {ALGY}, {AMP},
        {Ashmedai}, {AXIOM*}, {CAMAL}, {CAYLEY}, {CCalc}, {CLAM},
        {CoCoA}(?), {ESP}, {FLAP}, {FORM}, {FORMAL}, {Formula ALGOL},
        {GAP}, {JACAL}, {LiE}, {Macaulay}, {MACSYMA}, {Magic Paper},
        {MAO}, {Maple}, {Mathcad}, {MATHLAB}, {MuMath}, {Nother},
        {ORTHOCARTAN}, {Pari}, {REDUCE}, {SAC-1}, {SAC2}, {SAINT},
        {Schoonschip}, {Scratchpad I}, {SHEEP}, {STENSOR}, {SYMBAL},
        {SymbMath}, {Symbolic Mathematical Laboratory}, {TRIGMAN},
        {UBASIC}.
     
        {Usenet} newsgropup: {news:sci.math.symbolic}.
     
        (1995-04-12)