Maple vs Mathematica

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Maple vs Mathematica

Contents

[edit] Numerics

Both Mathematica and Maple support computations using floats, arbitrary precision and complex arithmetic. Maple has a software floating point model which attempts to be as close to IEEE 754 compliant as possible. Mathematica provides a less standard floating point arithmetic model that allow precision tracking to identify and control the propagation of rounding errors.

Maple provides linear algebra and other matrix operations via LAPACK or the NAG FORTRAN libraries using a choice of native hardware floating point arithmetic or arbitrary precision floating point numbers. Mathematica similarly uses the LAPACK libraries for numerical linear algebra.

Mathematica provides optimized computations for image processing including morphological image processing. Maple has a package for non-morphological image processing only, using only slower, more general linear algebra capabilities.

[edit] Symbolics

Both Maple and Mathematica provide symbolic computing capabilities.

In general Maple is more powerful on solving Integral equations and Groebner basis, Mathematica is more powerful for integration, recurrrence relations, equation solving and simplification. Differential equation solving is comparible between the systems.

Both systems provide domain control. Maple can declare symbols to be real, complex, or within intervals. Mathematica can declare real, complex, interval and integer attributes.

[edit] Graphics

Both systems provide a range of 2D and 3D graphics. The range is far greater in Mathematica.

Both Maple and Mathematica provide adaptive re-sampling for smoother 2D plots (though this is turned off by default in Maple) but only Mathematica extends this capability to 3D plots.

Both provide mouse driven rotatable 3D graphics. Maple provides 3D fly-by views, Mathematica does not. Mathematica graphics can contain active elements such as tooltips, mouse-over effects, tab and menu views and draggable elements. Maple cannot.

[edit] Programming

Maple provides a procedural language somewhat similar to Pascal.

Mathematica provides a mixed procudural/functional language, combining elements of C++ and APL.

An Integrated Development Environment (IDE), based on Eclipse, is provided for large project work for Mathematica. Maple has no IDE.

A runtime version of Mathematica, Mathematica Player, allows code written in Mathematica to be run without a Mathematica license. Maple code requires a full Maple license to run.

[edit] Interface

Both systems use a notebook style interface. Both systems support typeset math. Both systems support interface building.

Maple provides a set of around 50 special-case interfaces for helping explore specific topics. Mathematica provides none in the interface but hosts a web resource http://demonstrations.wolfram.com with around 5000 user created special-case interfaces. Maple provides a similar web resource of around 2100 applications http://www.maplesoft.com/applications/.

[edit] Import Export

Mathematica provides around 130 import/export filters using a standard interface. Maple provides around 15 import export filters.

[edit] Price

Pricing is similar for both products.

[edit] Companies

Mathematica is produced by Wolfram Research in the USA (http://wolfram.com). It also makes webMathematica, gridMathematica and provides the websites http://mathworld.wolfram.com and http://wolframalpha.com.

Maple is produced by Maplesoft in Canada (http://maplesoft.com). It also makes MapleNet, MapleTA and MapleSIM.

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