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PTC Mathcad VS Mathomatic

Compare PTC Mathcad VS Mathomatic and see what are their differences

PTC Mathcad logo PTC Mathcad

PTC Mathcad PTC Mathcad is Engineering Math Software That Allows You to Perform, Analyze, and Share Your Most Vital Calculations.

Mathomatic logo Mathomatic

Mathomatic is a free general purpose computer algebra system that is an expert in solving and simplifying the algebraic and computation issues.
  • PTC Mathcad Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-14
  • Mathomatic Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-17

PTC Mathcad features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    PTC Mathcad offers a highly intuitive and visual workspace that allows users to document and solve problems with ease. This usability reduces the learning curve for new users.
  • Engineering Notation
    Mathcad supports natural math notation, making it easier for engineers to input and understand complex mathematical expressions as they would be written on paper.
  • Live Mathematical Calculations
    Mathcad performs real-time calculations, allowing users to instantly see the results of their inputs and changes, which aids in iterative design processes.
  • Integration Capabilities
    The software easily integrates with other PTC solutions like Creo and Windchill, enhancing its value in a comprehensive product development environment.
  • Collaboration Features
    Mathcad provides tools for sharing and collaboration, which are crucial for team-based engineering projects. Users can annotate, comment, and share their worksheets seamlessly.

Possible disadvantages of PTC Mathcad

  • Cost
    PTC Mathcad can be expensive, especially for small businesses or individual users. The cost may include license fees, maintenance fees, and potential training costs.
  • Software Performance
    Some users have reported performance issues with large or complex worksheets, which can slow down productivity and impact user experience.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are user-friendly, mastering advanced features and functionalities may require significant effort and time investment.
  • Limited Scripting Capabilities
    Mathcad's scripting and automation capabilities are limited compared to other tools such as MATLAB, restricting the flexibility for users who need advanced computational capabilities.
  • Resource Intensive
    Mathcad can be resource intensive, requiring considerable computing power and memory, which may necessitate hardware upgrades or limit its use on lower-end machines.

Mathomatic features and specs

  • Lightweight and portable
    Mathomatic is a small, portable computer algebra system (CAS) written in C that can run on a wide variety of platforms including Unix, Linux, Windows, and even embedded systems, requiring very minimal system resources.
  • Free and open source
    Mathomatic is released under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL), making it freely available for anyone to use, study, modify, and distribute without any cost.
  • Simple and easy to use
    Mathomatic features a straightforward command-line interface with intuitive commands, making it accessible to users who need quick symbolic math computations without a steep learning curve common in more complex CAS tools.
  • Fast performance
    Due to its small codebase and efficient C implementation, Mathomatic performs symbolic algebra operations quickly, even on older or resource-constrained hardware.
  • Good for basic algebra tasks
    Mathomatic handles core algebraic operations well, including simplification, solving equations, polynomial arithmetic, calculus (differentiation and integration), and symbolic manipulation of mathematical expressions.

Possible disadvantages of Mathomatic

  • Limited advanced functionality
    Compared to major CAS tools like Mathematica, Maple, or even free alternatives like Maxima and SageMath, Mathomatic lacks many advanced mathematical capabilities such as advanced calculus, linear algebra, and specialized mathematical functions.
  • No longer actively maintained
    Mathomatic's development has been largely inactive since the passing of its primary developer, George Gesslein II, in 2018, meaning bugs are unlikely to be fixed and new features will not be added.
  • No graphical interface
    Mathomatic operates solely through a text-based command-line interface and does not offer a graphical user interface (GUI) or plotting capabilities, which limits its appeal for users who prefer visual interaction.
  • Small community and limited documentation
    Mathomatic has a relatively small user community compared to mainstream CAS software, which means limited community support, fewer tutorials, and less comprehensive documentation for troubleshooting.
  • Limited library and ecosystem integration
    Mathomatic lacks robust APIs and integration options with other programming languages, scientific libraries, or notebook environments, making it difficult to incorporate into larger scientific computing workflows.

Analysis of PTC Mathcad

Overall verdict

  • Yes, PTC Mathcad is considered to be a strong tool for engineering calculations, particularly appreciated for its documentation capabilities and ease of use in handling mathematical expressions. It provides a good balance of power and simplicity, making it a popular choice in engineering fields.

Why this product is good

  • PTC Mathcad is known for its ability to perform complex engineering calculations while displaying them in a user-friendly, readable format. It is especially useful for engineers and professionals who require a straightforward way to document calculations alongside units and graphs. It integrates well with other engineering tools and offers extensive capabilities for solving, analyzing, and sharing engineering calculations.

Recommended for

  • Engineers who need to perform and document complex calculations
  • Students studying engineering or related fields
  • Professionals who require clear visualization of mathematical data
  • Administrators or managers who need to ensure accurate and consistent calculations in reports

Analysis of Mathomatic

Overall verdict

  • Mathomatic is a free, open-source computer algebra system that is lightweight and useful for basic to intermediate symbolic math, though it is not as powerful or actively developed as major CAS tools like Mathematica, Maple, or SymPy.

Why this product is good

  • It is free and open-source, making it accessible to anyone
  • Lightweight and simple to install, requiring minimal system resources
  • Capable of symbolic algebra including simplification, solving equations, and calculus operations
  • Portable and can run on various platforms including embedded systems
  • Simple command-line interface that is easy to learn for basic tasks
  • No licensing costs compared to commercial alternatives

Recommended for

  • Students learning algebra and basic symbolic computation
  • Hobbyists who want a lightweight CAS without installing large software
  • Users on resource-constrained or older systems needing simple symbolic math tools
  • Educators demonstrating basic algebraic concepts
  • Programmers who want to embed simple symbolic computation in other projects
  • Those who prefer open-source tools over commercial CAS software

PTC Mathcad videos

PTC Mathcad Prime 6.0 - Overview

More videos:

  • Review - PTC Mathcad Prime 6.0 is Here!
  • Review - Engineering Calculations with PTC Mathcad Prime 5.0

Mathomatic videos

No Mathomatic videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PTC Mathcad and Mathomatic)
Engineering Calculator
100 100%
0% 0
Technical Computing
83 83%
17% 17
Numerical Computation
82 82%
18% 18
Math Solver
75 75%
25% 25

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing PTC Mathcad and Mathomatic, you can also consider the following products

SMath Studio - Tiny, powerful, free mathematical program with WYSIWYG editor and complete units of measurements support.

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Wolfram Mathematica - Mathematica has characterized the cutting edge in specialized processingโ€”and gave the chief calculation environment to a large number of pioneers, instructors, understudies, and others around the globe.

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PhotoStudy - Stuck on a Math or Science Problem? Get Help From an Expert Tutor in Seconds!

Sage Math - Sage is a free open-source mathematics software system licensed under the GPL.