Mathematica Compare Mathcad & Mathematica - Find Solutions for Diff Eqns

[TheDestroyer]

Mathcad or Mathematica?

Hi guys, I already have MathCad 2003 Installed in my computer, should I get Mathematica? What's the difference?

Can Mathematica find general solution of a differential equations? Mathcad can find only particular ones,

Can Mathematica solve a system of linear or differential equations or partial differential equations?

Thanks, and please be specific in the answer about the difference, and if it does it need any programming, I know C++, can I work in it if it needs?

 

[PerennialII]

If you're looking for a general top notch tool Mathematica (or Maple) is your choice, IMHO. With respect to differential eqs and Mathematica you can get a decent view here :

http://documents.wolfram.com/mathematica/Built-inFunctions/AdvancedDocumentation/DifferentialEquations/NDSolve/index.html

Mathematica is really programmable :

http://documents.wolfram.com/mathematica/Built-inFunctions/Programming/

I do quite a bit of my programming stuff with it nowadays, eases and makes development quite a bit faster.

 

[Manchot]

I know that Mathematica does find general solutions of ODEs, but I'm not sure about systems of ODEs and PDEs. It is very programmable, though.

 

[gnome]

Matlab

 

[PerennialII]

Matlab

Both !

 

[PerennialII]

I know that Mathematica does find general solutions of ODEs, but I'm not sure about systems of ODEs and PDEs. It is very programmable, though.

It does work with systems, as far as I know with the same limitations it works with ODEs and PDEs.

 

[dextercioby]

Definitely numerical.I mean,most of the systems are unsolvable analytically,therefore numerical sollutions can be found.A smart software is all u need...

Daniel.

 

[TheDestroyer]

Thanks everybody for the information...