When is Hamiltonian mechanics useful

[dEdt]

Generally, what sort of problems are handled better by Hamiltonian mechanics than by Lagrangian mechanics? Can anyone give a specific example?

 

[genericusrnme]

Your first exposure to quantum mechanics will be made easier with a working knowledge of Hamiltonian Mechanics.

Really they just provide a different way of looking at a problem, mainly through the more intuative phase space flows. Hamiltons and Lagranges equations are completely equivelant.

 

[Killingtensor]

Given that the lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms are exactly equivalent and based on the same principles, it's more a question of taste. For example, Roger Penrose says he finds the Hamiltonian approach to be more "symmetric".
Come on, those poisson brackets are tasty :p