Should I invest in mathematica?

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  • Thread starter silverdiesel
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In summary, Maple is more user-friendly and has a steeper learning curve, but is faster and more robust when mastered. Mathematica is good for numerical computation, but is better suited for when you have an impossible integral to compute.
  • #1
silverdiesel
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I am a sophmore physics major. I'm just curious if you all think it will be benificial to have Mathematica ($150 for the student edition) for any and all future homework assignments. I do have access to it at the school labs, but they are usually closed when I like to study, and well.. just wondering if it is worth having my own copy.

thanks much.:tongue2:
 
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  • #2
Actually, since I am on the topic, you know what I really need? A CAS (computer algebra system) that can do algebra one step at a time. For example, I am currently working on a problem where I have to take the determinant of a 3x3 matrix where each position in the matrix is a polynomial. It can get hairy. Its one thing to punch in the matrix and see what mathematica says the determinant should be, but how it got there is the real trick.
 
  • #3
I wouldn't bother buying Mathematica until you're sure that Maxima can't do what you need to do for free.

- Warren
 
  • #4
Mathematica is garbarge compared to Maple in my opinion. I wouldn't invest in it.
 
  • #5
silverdiesel, do you have examples of such tools?
 
  • #6
Chipset said:
silverdiesel, do you have examples of such tools?

What tools? Not sure what you mean. I have used mathematica at school, if that is what you mean. In regard to the one-step-at-a-time CAS, no. It was just an idea.

hmm, maybe there is some sort of algebra teaching software that would work... (again, just thinking out loud)
 
  • #7
What advantages does Maple have over Mathematica?
 
  • #8
Daverz said:
What advantages does Maple have over Mathematica?

I like the coding that they use much much better.
 
  • #9
I purchased MatLab last year, and I love it. I was thinking about buying Mathematica at first, but after researching I found that most engineers use MatLab in real world situations.

But I don't know about for a physicist.
 
  • #10
There's a free analogue to MATLAB too, called Octave.

- Warren
 
  • #11
JasonRox said:
I like the coding that they use much much better.

The coding? Do you mean the syntax of the programming language?
 
  • #12
Matlab is good for numerical computation...but Mathematica is what you turn to when you have an impossible integral to compute, and you want a symbolic answer.
 
  • #13
I went ahead and purchased mathematica yesterday. Good stuff. It was able to confirm the solutions to a couple 3x3 determinants I have been working on (all symbolic, no numbers).
 
  • #14
JasonRox said:
Mathematica is garbarge compared to Maple in my opinion. I wouldn't invest in it.
Maple's a better teaching; very user friendly.

Mathematica's got a steeper learning curve but is faster (and more robust) when mastered.

Matlab's good for coding test programs in (before optimising in C++ etc.)

If you can afford it, get the student versions when you can - they get a lot more expensive later on...
 

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