When comparing Mathematica, Maple, and MATLAB for learning higher math and physics, Mathematica is favored for its extensive capabilities and refinement, particularly in symbolic computation. While Maple has improved since its earlier instability, Mathematica remains the preferred choice for many due to its vast array of packages that cater to various mathematical needs. MATLAB, on the other hand, is primarily numeric and not symbolic, making it less suitable for symbolic math compared to Mathematica. Although MATLAB does offer some symbolic packages, they do not match the sophistication of Mathematica's offerings. Overall, Mathematica is recommended for those focused on symbolic mathematics, while MATLAB is better suited for numerical analysis and engineering applications.
