Question.  Can I use a Mathematica version earlier than the current Version 5.2, in this course?  I already have it on my computer.

Answer.  You cannot reliably use version 4.x or earlier; you may be able to use version 5.0 or 5.1.  I strongly advise that you to update to version 5.2 (the one available at OIT public labs).  We may be using functions that were updated for, or introducted in, Mathematica 5.2. Technology moves relentlessly onward!

If you are using Mathematica 5.0, one thing introduced in Mathematica 5.1 will not work that I use in some notebooks:  The special notation z* for complex conjugate.  The superscript is not an ordinary asterisk, but rather is typed using Esc co Esc.  Thus in Mathematica 5.2, you would get:

   z = 2 + 3 I; z*
2 - 3 I

Notebook files created in version 5.0 or 5.2 of Mathematica should work OK in version 5.2.

If you already an earlier edition of the Mathematica Student Version, you may be able to get a special price to upgrade to the current Student Version 5.2.  Contact Wolfram Research directly.  (You´ll probably need proof-of-purchase, possibly even your purchase receipt, in order to get the upgrade price.)