A new computational code based on the method of continued fractions is developed to study low-energy electron scattering by polyatomic molecules with arbitrary symmetry. As a first application, this code is used to study elastic electron scattering by four representative molecules with different symmetries, viz., H-2, CH4, H2O, and NH3. The calculated physical quantities such as reactance K matrices, differential cross sections, etc, converge rapidly. Also, our calculated cross sections are in good agreement with other available theoretical and/or experimental data, confirming that this is an efficient method for studying electron molecule scattering. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science S,V. All rights reserved.13641671117125