Precision control and tracking

Untracked numerical precision is a major cause of unrecognized errors in engineering and science calculations. Mathematica is unique in providing systemwide precision control and tracking to alert you to possible problems or correct them automatically.
Numerical-precision control--specified input mode ensures unrivaled trustworthiness of numerical results.

Automatic algorithm selection

Often you know the task you want performed (e.g., solve a differential equation), but not the best algorithm to use. Systems usually leave you to manually select and sample any alternatives--risking a slow result, no result, or even the wrong answer. Mathematica instead uses automatic algorithm selection--applied to many algorithms. It's crucial for getting you and your team consistent, reliable results--a unique capability refined by our computation specialists over the past 20 years.

Models instantly come alive

Simply wrapping Manipulate around your expression takes any selected symbols--variables, parameters, Booleans, etc.--and immediately makes a ready-to-use interface through which you can control and vary their values.

Watch "Mathematica's Manipulate Command." (Video, 1:14)

Work with any data

Just one automated step enables you to import your data in hundreds of formats, from files, URLs, or live from databases--all immediately ready for Mathematica analysis. Mathematica's flexible symbolic representation natively supports textual, geometric, image, XML, sound, and many other modern structures, not just numerical matrices--making export as easy as import.

Symbolically enhanced numeric computing

Mathematica often uses symbolic calculation behind the scenes to optimize performance of your numerical computations for time and accuracy--or to make them directly computable at all. Examples include the intelligent handling of piecewise functions, discontinuities and automatic expression transformation ahead of numerical sampling.