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Mathcad

Free math software

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I recently wrote about MathCAD Prime 2.0 and Maple 16 in an article titled Math for Engineers, in Design World.

Both MathCAD and Maple are powerful tools for doing engineering math, and are much better choices than the tool most commonly used for this: Microsoft Excel.

Yet, they’re not the only choices. Wikipedia lists 61 different computer algebra systems, 36 of which are free open-source software.

An embarrassment of riches.

William Hunter, from South Africa, recently wrote a note to me, mentioning two of his favorite free math programs: SMath Studio (which is conceptually similar to MathCAD), and Euler Math Toolbox (which is similar to Maple.)

SMath Studio is a math program with a paper-like interface. It has quite a number of capabilities:

  • Solving differential equations
  • Graphing functions in two or three dimensions
  • Symbolic calculations including solving systems of equations
  • Matrix operations, including determinants
  • Finding roots of polynomials and functions
  • Symbolic and numeric differentiation of functions
  • Numeric integration
  • Simple multiline looped programs
  • User defined functions

The software was created in 2005 by Andrey Ivashov, a St. Petersburg mathematician. (St. Petersburg is one of my favorite software development cities.) It’s written using the .NET framework, is available for Windows and Linux, and can be downloaded from the SMath Studio Forum. The forum also shows some great examples of the types of problems that can be solved with Smath. Here are a few of them:

  • Non-linear deflection of a flexible cantilever pdf
  • Batch chemical reactor pdf
  • Lateral force developed by a tire, using an early Pacejka model. pdf
  • NASA’s Atmospheric Model (SI Units) pdf
  • Using an electromagnetic shaker to drive a single degree of freedom system pdf
  • Simple Estimates of a single prop, naturally aspirated, aircraft’s performance pdf
  • Ramp Design – testing for max allowable bending moment and deflection (US Customary Units) pdf
  • Column Design – based on AISC Manual of Steel Construction (US Customary Units) pdf
  • Engine Heat Rejection Calcs – good example of working with relative temperature differences (US Customary Units) pdf
  • Calculate the Area Properties of Composite Rectangular Areas (US Customary Units) pdf

Euler Math Toolbox has been developed by René Grothmann, a mathematician at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany, since 1988. It uses a matrix language similar to Matlab, and is probably best classed as a numerical analysis program. It handles symbolic computations via Maxima, an open-source computer algebra system based on a 1982 version of Macsyma.

My point here isn’t to review these programs, but rather point out that capable free tools do exist. I’m interested in hearing about your experiences with free math tools. Which ones have you used, and how have they worked for you?

PTC lauds Xavier Falcons as winners of the 2010-2011 Real World Design Challenge

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The national competition for high school students is run by a public-private partnership with the goal of increasing the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce. Students from 20 states competed in elimination presentations on April 16, 2011 at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center. The top three teams presented their solutions to a panel of judges representing government, academia, and industry.

 

 

PTC

www.ptc.com

Real World Design Challenge

www.realworlddesignchallenge.org

PTC Launches Mathcad Prime 1.0

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New task-based, document-centric calculations environment improves personal and engineering process productivity.

PTC launched Mathcad Prime 1.0, engineering calculation software. The product delivers a new tasked-based user interface – enabling engineers to focus on developing engineering calculations rather than formatting design documents.

Mathcad presents calculations, text and images in an understandable format, enabling knowledge capture, reuse and design verification, which can result in improved product quality with faster time-to-market. As part of PTC’s product development system (PDS), Mathcad’s integration with other PTC products including Creo Elements/Pro (formerly Pro/ENGINEER) and Windchill can enable increased productivity, improved process efficiency, and better collaboration between individuals and groups.

Highlights of Mathcad Prime 1.0 include:

New task-based interface – promotes productivity while also enabling you to learn unfamiliar functions or features quickly and easily.

Document-centric calculation environment – helps you create detailed, professional engineering design documents that include complex calculations quickly and easily, using live standard math notation with text, images and graphs. Additionally, documents are easy to read and understand by non-Mathcad users, thus supporting effective communication of designs and engineering knowledge across the enterprise.

Advanced math exploration – Powerful capabilities along with an environment to display, manipulate, analyze and plot data with full units support.

Dynamic units support – full support for units throughout all calculations created in Mathcad Prime 1.0 improves process efficiency by helping to reduce errors and increase accuracy of results.

Intuitive equation editor – WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) equation editor enables you to express problem constraints and solutions in natural math notation allowing you to focus on the calculations and spend less time manipulating the document.

Mathcad Prime 1.0 is available now in all supported languages.

PTC

www.ptc.com