Question. Can I use Mathematica version 3 in this course? I already have it on my computer. And what about version 4.0?

Answer. No, you cannot reliably use version 3.0 or earlier; you must use version 4.0—or the current version, 4.1. Technology moves relentlessly onward!

Notebook files created in version 4 of Mathematica often cannot be properly displayed in version 3.  Moreover, in version 4 there are new functions and extensions to existing functions not present in earlier versions.

The changes from version 4.0 to 4.1 are relatively minor, so you should not experience any difficulty if you use version 4.1 notebooks in version 4.0, or vice versa. Just avoid using any of the 4.1 innovations in notebooks that you want to use in 4.0.

If you already own the Mathematica Student Version 3.0, you may be able to get a special price to uprgrade to Student Version 4.  Contact Wolfram Research directly. (You´ll probably need proof-of-purchase, possibly even your purchase receipt, in order to get the upgrade price.)