Should I invest in mathematica?

[silverdiesel]

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.

 

[silverdiesel]

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.

 

[chroot]

I wouldn't bother buying Mathematica until you're sure that Maxima can't do what you need to do for free.

- Warren

 

[JasonRox]

Mathematica is garbarge compared to Maple in my opinion. I wouldn't invest in it.

 

[Chipset]

silverdiesel, do you have examples of such tools?

 

[silverdiesel]

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)

 

[Daverz]

What advantages does Maple have over Mathematica?

 

[JasonRox]

What advantages does Maple have over Mathematica?

I like the coding that they use much much better.

 

[Nothing000]

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.

 

[chroot]

There's a free analogue to MATLAB too, called Octave.

- Warren

 

[Daverz]

I like the coding that they use much much better.

The coding? Do you mean the syntax of the programming language?

 

[Quaoar]

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.

 

[silverdiesel]

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).

 

[J77]

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...