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Cornel19-Tanzanite
19-Tanzanite
February 24, 2025
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Mathcad Prime Engine

  • February 24, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 703 views

Hi,

 

What is the symbolic engine used by Mathcad Prime (all versions greater or equal than 7)?

 

What is the numeric engine used by Mathcad Prime (all versions greater or equal than 7)?

Best answer by Werner_E
@Cornel wrote:

Hi,

 

What is the symbolic engine used by Mathcad Prime (all versions greater or equal than 7)?

FriCAS (an Axiom fork) in a refinement and modification by PTC
GitHub - fricas/fricas: Official repository of the FriCAS computer algebra system
https://fricas.github.io/book.pdf

 

 

What is the numeric engine used by Mathcad Prime (all versions greater or equal than 7)?

?? That's what Mathcad has always been about - a number cruncher with some decent numerical algorithms combined with an ingenious whiteboard interface and the ability to deal with units.

PTC has built on the development of Mathsoft when they developed Prime, but has replaced some algorithms that were based in part on the Numerical Recipes with others (Solvers from KNITRO).

But to my knowledge, however, this is not documented in detail anywhere (publicly).

 

Is there any specific reason for this question of yours?

 

1 reply

W
Werner_E25-Diamond IAnswer
25-Diamond I
February 24, 2025
@Cornel wrote:

Hi,

 

What is the symbolic engine used by Mathcad Prime (all versions greater or equal than 7)?

FriCAS (an Axiom fork) in a refinement and modification by PTC
GitHub - fricas/fricas: Official repository of the FriCAS computer algebra system
https://fricas.github.io/book.pdf

 

 

What is the numeric engine used by Mathcad Prime (all versions greater or equal than 7)?

?? That's what Mathcad has always been about - a number cruncher with some decent numerical algorithms combined with an ingenious whiteboard interface and the ability to deal with units.

PTC has built on the development of Mathsoft when they developed Prime, but has replaced some algorithms that were based in part on the Numerical Recipes with others (Solvers from KNITRO).

But to my knowledge, however, this is not documented in detail anywhere (publicly).

 

Is there any specific reason for this question of yours?

 

    C
    Cornel19-TanzaniteAuthor
    19-Tanzanite
    February 24, 2025

    I am wondering why Wolfram engine and Maple engine for example are much and more powerfull than Mathcad Prime engine?

    L
    LucMeekes23-Emerald IV
    23-Emerald IV
    February 24, 2025

    That's simple, I guess: Money in = performance out.

    Wolfram and Maple have put more (development) effort (=money) in their applications. Also note that (real) Mathcad (from version 4 through 13) used to have a Maple engine on board to deal with symbolics. Apparently there was something not right in the use of the Maple engine, so in version 14 it was replaced with Mupad. Then PTC decided they could do better and started Prime, still using the Maple symbolic engine until in Version 6/7 that was replaced by FriCas, for reasons of licensing (= cost = money). Now PTC has its own development of a symbolic engine and is working on that for some 5 years or so, while Maple and Wolfram have been around for more than 25 years.

    Oh yes, time=money (too).

    Performance is one thing, ease of use is another. Consider the steepness of the 'learning to get hang of the application' curve. Mathcad (and Prime) have had the whiteboard interface from the beginning: typing equations as you are used to on the board (or on paper) makes for easy understanding.

     

    Success!
    Luc

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