June 21, 2022
Mathcad vs Matlab – Product Comparisons
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Mathcad vs Matlab - Competitive Analysis
TriStar PLM Solutions has created a Product Comparison for both Mathcad and Matlab so that you can make an educated decision on what product you believe would work best for your organization. We made this easy for you to see so that you can find out what would work best for your organization.
The following compares Mathcad vs Matlab, two popular engineering calculation programs that are often used to write complex algorithms. We will share the product comparisons with each of these products!
User Interface – Mathcad vs Matlab
Mathcad has an easy-to-use intuitive whiteboard user interface, where you can insert symbols and write equations.
Matlab uses a Command Window type interface, the user has to write instructions for any scripting software, and the code can be written directly in the Command Window or run from the Editor. Matlab has also a Workspace where you can visualize what happens to the variables that are being used.
Documentation – Mathcad vs Matlab
Mathcad can be used by itself as a documentation software, (it has a lot of features that ease the documentation process like gridlines, page view/draft view, text formatting, etc.) if not the worksheets can be saved in RTF, pdf, and XPS formats.
Matlab has the ability to ‘publish’ to many formats, by using the PUBLISH tab, or the publish function. Can export to formats like .html, .doc, .latex, .ppt, .xml, .pdf. It is not self-documenting, but starting with the latest version it has this “live script” that is an interactive interface that combines code and results with formatted text and mathematical equations.
Simple Computations – Mathcad vs Matlab
Mathcad has the transparency of calculations, and it is easier to understand formulas and equations.
Matlab has the ability to ‘publish’ to many formats, by using the PUBLISH tab, or the publish function. Can export to formats like .html, .doc, .latex, .ppt, .xml, .pdf. It is not self-documenting, but starting with the latest version it has this “live script” that is an interactive interface that combines code and results with formatted text and mathematical equations.
Complex Calculations – Mathcad vs Matlab
Unit Management – Mathcad vs Matlab
Mathcad handles units easily, they just have to be inserted in the formula or typed in (Mathcad recognizes them as units and marks them with green color). Other benefits: units can be customized; Mathcad flags unit errors; units can be added in plots (are automatically added for results that already have units). The user can switch between the 3 available unit systems.
Matlab uses a specific syntax for units, it doesn’t convert automatically, so Methods have to be applied to the result in order to convert or change the display… There is no visible line between measurement systems, but the user can define new units and also use units from different systems.
Symbolics – Mathcad vs Matlab
Mathcad has a separate tab for symbolic computations that contain operators and keywords.
Matlab requires a symbolic toolbox and to declare as symbolic all the variables that are going to be used in this way.
Solving Capabilities – Mathcad vs Matlab
Mathcad uses Solve Blocks for solving a system of linear, nonlinear, or differential equations or for solving an optimization problem.
Matlab requires the symbolic toolbox and code writing in order to solve equations. It can display the results in a symbolic form if the variables are declared at the beginning as symbolics or in a numerical form.
Plotting – Mathcad vs Matlab
Mathcad can plot using units, and the user can adjust the axes from the graph. The interface here is user-friendly and extremely intuitive.
Matlab requires defining the axes range, and if the user wants to take into consideration units, they have to modify how the step of the axes. Matlab has a plot tab that can be used to find the code for every type of graph.
Interoperability – Mathcad vs Matlab
Mathcad can be used to embed third-party apps in the worksheet. The object reflects the content that is embedded and has native integration with Excel and Creo Parametric.
Matlab requires extra toolboxes, like the Import Tool or Simulink. A Matlab live script is an interactive document that combines Matlab code with embedded output, formatted text, equations, and images in a single environment called the Live Editor.
Engineering Calculation Software Winner: PTC Mathcad
While both Mathcad and Matlab are excellent tools, PTC Mathcad is the clear choice for engineering calculations. Matlab is centered around being a mathematics tool designed for mathematicians. They both have their share of mathematical bells and whistles, but for CAD engineers the choice is clear!
Find out more about Mathcad or give Mathcad Express a try for free!
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