Numerical & Mathematics

Numerical computing and mathematics are the layer beneath most engineering work: solving systems of equations, integration, curve fitting, signal processing and plotting. This is where the alternatives to the expensive commercial packages live, along with the language that has become the de-facto standard.

How to choose

• If you already have scripts in MATLAB syntax — one tool here runs them with almost no changes.
• If you also need a block diagram for control system simulation — one package brings both capabilities together.
• If you want an analytical result rather than a number — a formula, not a value — you need a computer algebra system.
• And if you are building something that will grow, a programming language with numerical libraries gives you the broadest base.

Moving from a spreadsheet to a tool in this category is the highest-return investment in engineering work: a calculation you can review, version and re-run to the same result.