Symbolic computation: a unified approach to studying likelihood

We describe a set of procedures that automate many algebraic calculations common in statistical asymptotic theory. The procedures are very general and serve to unify the study of likelihood and likelihood type functions. The procedures emulate techniques one would normally carry out by hand; this strategy is emphasised throughout the paper. The purpose of the software is to provide a practical alternative to difficult manual algebraic computations. The result is a method that is quick and free of clerical error.