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## matlab vs mathematica

I'm trying to have a math program on my computer for math-related things. I've been attempting to use matlab for a while now, but its far too confusing for my tastes. Is mathematica any easier to use?

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 like any program you will need to take time to get use to the notations but i found it to be easier than matlab. also mathematica has an extensive help library that you can use if you forget
 Mathematica is easier to use. Like the Midy said, it'll take time to get use to the notation, but it's pretty good at telling you what you did wrong.

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## matlab vs mathematica

Asking the question of matlab vs mathematica is a little like asking the question of which one should I choose between Microsoft Word 10 and Motocross Madness 2. The simple answer is that they are different programs intended for different purposes and not directly comparable.

Mathematica is a algebra and symbolic maths package whereas matlab is predominately a numerical computation package (though you can get a symbolic toolkit for matlab which then gives it some of the features of a program like Maple or Mathematica). Generally speaking though you'd use Matlab if you want to be able to manipulate lots of numerical data easily and you'd use mathematica if you want an aid for symbolic mathematical manipulations. Engineers for example would mostly tend to find Matlab more useful than Mathematica, while it would normally be the other way around for a Mathematician.

 Recognitions: Gold Member Science Advisor Staff Emeritus I use both, and as pointed out previously, they have different scopes of application. Matlab is much more efficient when it comes to intensive numerical calculation. However, I find Mathematica much richer, and even when I have to do not-too-intensive numerical work, I prefer Mathematica. But for the big number crunching, Mathematica is simply not efficient enough with computer ressources. Mathematica has however, a longer "learning curve" IMO. But once you master it, it is terribly powerful. If it is a matter of budget, I'd go for mathematica, because there's no clone available, while there are good free clones of matlab (scilab for instance).

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 Quote by vanesch If it is a matter of budget, I'd go for mathematica, because there's no clone available, while there are good free clones of matlab (scilab for instance).
There is Maxima (SourceForge link), based on a 1982 version of Macsyma. Macysyma is the granddaddy of Mathematica and Maple. Sorry, I haven't tried it.

Matlab provides a symbolic toolkit powered by the Maple engine. Unfortunately, the integration is not clean (and that is saying it nicely). Do the Matlab clones provide a symbolic toolkit? To date I have not been impressed by the Matlab clones.

 Quote by D H There is Maxima (SourceForge link), based on a 1982 version of Macsyma. Macysyma is the granddaddy of Mathematica and Maple. Sorry, I haven't tried it. Matlab provides a symbolic toolkit powered by the Maple engine. Unfortunately, the integration is not clean (and that is saying it nicely). Do the Matlab clones provide a symbolic toolkit? To date I have not been impressed by the Matlab clones.
I have tried maxima before. It does give you a feel of what symbolic package is. However it feature is nowhere near maple or mathematica. I personally prefer mathematica because it is TOO POWERFUL compare to anyhting else on earth

 When I'm working on maths I have Matlab, Mathematica, and Maple all going. It's hard to be quite proficient at all of them so I just use what I know from each. I like mathematica a lot, if I were to choose only one, because the documentation seems the most extensive and accessible. Just my $0.02  I think it comes down to solely what you want Symbolic/Analytic - Mathematica Numerical - Matlab Don't get one or the other because one is easier to use, get it for the right purpose. People with programming experience would probably say Matlab is easier than Mathematica, while people without might have an easier time with Mathematica. Basically anything you would see in a course, such as Calculus, Linear Algebra, and others of the sort, you can use Mathematica for. But if you want to look at bifurcations of a nonlinear pendulum, for example, you don't (at least I don't) even want to look at Mathematica.  Recognitions: Science Advisor Hi, neutrino, thanks for the link, which led me to http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/22768 The comments had me  Recognitions: Gold Member Science Advisor Staff Emeritus Of course, we haven't even mentioned Mathcad, which is one of my personal favorites. It does almost anything that Mathematica does (at least in terms of what I need), it's pretty, and it's significantly easier to learn than Mathematica. - Warren  holy crap! I just realized how expensive these programs are. @chroot thanks I'll try that out  Recognitions: Gold Member Science Advisor Staff Emeritus Most of these programs have student editions that are reasonably priced (or about as "reasonable" as a textbook). - Warren  mathematica rules. maple is garbage, just as an aside.  Recognitions: Homework Help I've only ever used the trial of Mathematicia because my parents don't reckon its worth$150 :( It was definitely powerful, although because of the Nature of its computations, some symbolic expressions were more complicated than they needed to be. That can be said of any symbolic math program though.