<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950134-04-007122
<TYPE>S-8
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>4
<FILING-DATE>20040510
<EFFECTIVENESS-DATE>20040510
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS INC
<CIK>0000813672
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7372
<IRS-NUMBER>770148231
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0102
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>S-8
<ACT>33
<FILE-NUMBER>333-115349
<FILM-NUMBER>04794049
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2655 SEELY ROAD BLDG 5
<CITY>SAN JOSE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95134
<PHONE>4089431234
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>555 RIVER OAKS PARKWAY
<CITY>SAN JOSE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95134
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ECAD INC /DE/
<DATE-CHANGED>19880609
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>S-8
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>f98866orsv8.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM S-8
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>sv8</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May&nbsp;10, 2004<BR>
<div align="right" style="font-size: 10pt">Registration No.&nbsp;333-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</div></B>

<HR size="4" noshade color="#000000" style="margin-top: -5px">
<HR size="1" noshade color="#000000" style="margin-top: -10px">

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
Washington, D.C. 20549</B>

<P>
<HR noshade width="13%" align="center" size="1">
<P>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>FORM S-8<BR>
REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B><BR>
Under<BR>
The Securities Act of 1933

<P>
<HR noshade width="13%" align="center" size="1">
<P>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.</B><BR>
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="55%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Delaware</B><BR>
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>77-0148231</B><BR>
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>2655 Seely Avenue, Building 5<BR>
San Jose, California 95134</B><BR>
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

<P>
<HR noshade width="13%" align="center" size="1">
<P>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Options Assumed by Cadence Design Systems, Inc.<BR>
originally granted under the<BR>
QDA, Inc. 2003 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan</B><BR>
(Full title of the Plan)

<P>
<HR noshade width="13%" align="center" size="1">
<P>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>R.L. Smith McKeithen, Esq.<BR>
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary<BR>
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.<BR>
2655 Seely Avenue, Building 5, San Jose, California 95134</B><BR>
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)<BR>
<B>(408)&nbsp;943-1234</B><BR>
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

<P>
<HR noshade width="13%" align="center" size="1">
<P>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Copies to:<BR>
Gregory J. Conklin, Esq.<BR>
Gibson, Dunn &#038; Crutcher LLP<BR>
One Montgomery Street, 31st Floor<BR>
San Francisco, California 94104<BR>
(415)&nbsp;393-8200</B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="85%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="38%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<tr><td colspan="17"><hr size="4" noshade></TD><TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount of</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Title of Securities</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount to be</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Offering Price</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Aggregate Offering</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Registration</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>to be Registered(1)</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Registered(2)</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>per Share(3)</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Price(3)</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Fee(3)</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:10px; text-indent:-10px">Common Stock, par<BR>
value $0.01 per share</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="center">47,970 shares</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">0.75</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">35,978</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">4.56</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<tr><td colspan="17"><hr size="4" noshade></TD><TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<P>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="96%">Includes, with respect to each share of Common Stock, Rights granted
pursuant to the Registrant&#146;s Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of
February&nbsp;1, 2000, between the Registrant and Mellon Investor Services, LLC, as
Rights Agent. Until a triggering event thereunder, the Rights trade with, and
cannot be separated from, the Common Stock.</TD>
</TR>

<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">(2)</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="96%">This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
Common Stock which become issuable under the QDA, Inc. 2003 Stock Option/Stock
Issuance Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or
other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which
results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of Cadence
Design Systems, Inc. Common Stock.</TD>
</TR>

<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">(3)</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="96%">Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the maximum offering price
per share that such options may be exercised.</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P>
<HR size="1" noshade color="#000000" style="margin-top: -2px">
<HR size="4" noshade color="#000000" style="margin-top: -10px">

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!-- TOC -->
<A name="toc"><DIV align="CENTER" style="page-break-before:always"><U><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></U></DIV></A>

<P><CENTER>
<TABLE border="0" width="90%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="76%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#000">PART I</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#001">PART II</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#002">Item&nbsp;3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Incorporation of Documents by Reference</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#003">EXPLANATORY NOTE REGARDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#004">Item&nbsp;4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Description of Securities</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#005">Item&nbsp;5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interests of Named Experts and Counsel</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#006">Item&nbsp;6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Indemnification of Directors and Officers</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#007">Item&nbsp;7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exemption from Registration Claimed</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#008">Item&nbsp;8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exhibits</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#009">Item&nbsp;9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Undertakings</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#010">SIGNATURES</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#011">EXHIBIT INDEX</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="f98866orexv5w1.txt">EXHIBIT 5.1</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="f98866orexv23w1.txt">EXHIBIT 23.1</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="f98866orexv23w2.txt">EXHIBIT 23.2</A></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<!-- /TOC -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<!-- link1 "PART I" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="000"></A></DIV>
<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>PART I</B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Information Required in the Section&nbsp;10(a) Prospectus</B>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the instructions to Form S-8, Part&nbsp;I (Information Required in
the Section 10(a) Prospectus) is not filed as part of this Registration
Statement.

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The shares of common stock subject to options registered hereunder have
been assumed by the Registrant pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of December&nbsp;19, 2003, among the Registrant, QDA, Inc., a California
corporation, Project Mendocino, Inc., a California corporation and wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Registrant, and David Marple, as shareholder agent. These
options were originally granted to directors, employees and consultants of QDA,
Inc. under the QDA, Inc. 2003 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan.

<!-- link1 "PART II" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="001"></A></DIV>
<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>PART II</B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Information Required in the Registration Statement</B>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Incorporation of Documents by Reference" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="002"></A></DIV>
<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Incorporation of Documents by Reference</B>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration
Statement the following documents previously filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;):

<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" nowrap align="right">(a)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The Registrant&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended January&nbsp;3, 2004, including all material
incorporated by reference therein;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" nowrap align="right">(b)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
with the Commission on April&nbsp;22, 2004;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" nowrap align="right">(c)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The description of the Registrant&#146;s Common Stock
to be offered hereby contained in the Registrant&#146;s
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission
on August&nbsp;29, 1990; and</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" nowrap align="right">(d)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The description of the Registrant&#146;s Preferred
Share Purchase Rights set forth in Exhibit&nbsp;4.02 to the
Registrant&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K405 filed with the
Commission on March&nbsp;27, 2000.</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All documents filed pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, after the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents, provided, however, that the
Registrant is not incorporating any information furnished under either Item&nbsp;9
or Item&nbsp;12 of any current report on Form 8-K.

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any document, and any statement contained in a document, incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a
statement contained herein, or in any other subsequently filed document that
also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies
or supersedes such document or statement. Any such document or statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or
superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement. Subject to
the foregoing, all information appearing in this Registration Statement is
qualified in its entirety by the information appearing in the documents
incorporated by reference.

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-1
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!-- link1 "EXPLANATORY NOTE REGARDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="003"></A></DIV>
<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>EXPLANATORY NOTE REGARDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS<BR>
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS<BR>
REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On March&nbsp;22, 2002, the Registrant announced that it had appointed KPMG LLP
to replace Arthur Andersen LLP (&#147;Andersen&#148;) as the Registrant&#146;s independent
auditors. The Registrant&#146;s consolidated balance sheet as of December&nbsp;29, 2001,
and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders&#146; equity and
cash flows for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;29, 2001, incorporated by
reference in this registration statement have been audited by Andersen, as
stated in its report dated March&nbsp;11, 2002, which is incorporated by reference
herein. After reasonable efforts, the Registrant has been unable to obtain
Andersen&#146;s consent to the incorporation by reference into this registration
statement of its report with respect to these financial statements. Under these
circumstances, Rule&nbsp;437a under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
&#147;1933 Act&#148;), permits the Registrant to file this registration statement without
a written consent from Andersen. The absence of such consent may limit recovery
by investors on certain claims. In particular, and without limitation,
investors will not be able to assert claims against Andersen under Section&nbsp;11
of the 1933 Act for any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
financial statements audited by Andersen or any omission of a material fact
required to be stated therein. In addition, the ability of Andersen to satisfy
any claims (including claims arising from Andersen&#146;s provision of auditing and
other services to the Registrant) may be limited as a practical matter due to
the fact that Andersen is no longer a going concern.

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Description of Securities" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="004"></A></DIV>
<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Description of Securities</B>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not Applicable.

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="005"></A></DIV>
<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interests of Named Experts and Counsel</B>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not Applicable.

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Indemnification of Directors and Officers" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="006"></A></DIV>
<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Indemnification of Directors and Officers</B>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation
to indemnify any of its directors or officers who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any third party proceeding by reason of the
fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation
against expenses (including attorneys&#146; fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection
with such action, suit or proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in
a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that such person&#146;s conduct was
unlawful. In a derivative action, i.e., one by or in the right of a
corporation, the corporation is permitted to indemnify any of its directors or
officers against expenses (including attorneys&#146; fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such
action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made if such person shall
have been adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent
that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon
application that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for
such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Article&nbsp;VII of the Registrant&#146;s currently effective Certificate of
Incorporation eliminates the personal liability of its directors for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i)
for any breach of the director&#146;s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its
stockholders, (ii)&nbsp;for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii)&nbsp;under Section&nbsp;174
of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iv)&nbsp;for any transaction from which
the director derived an improper personal benefit. In addition, as permitted
by Section&nbsp;145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Bylaws of the
Registrant provide that: (a)&nbsp;the Registrant is required to indemnify its
directors and officers and persons serving in such capacities in other business
entities (including, for example, subsidiaries of the Registrant) at the
Registrant&#146;s request (such directors, officers and other persons are
hereinafter referred to collectively as, &#147;Covered Persons&#148;), to the fullest
extent permitted by Delaware law, including those circumstances in which
indemnification would otherwise be discretionary; (b)&nbsp;the Registrant is
required to advance expenses, as incurred to such Covered Persons in connection
with defending a proceeding; (c)&nbsp;the indemnitee(s) of the Registrant have the
right to bring suit, and to

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-2
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">be paid the expenses of prosecuting such suit if successful, to enforce
the rights to indemnification under the Bylaws or to advancement of expenses
under the Bylaws; (d)&nbsp;the rights conferred in the Bylaws are not exclusive and
the Registrant is authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with such
directors, officers and employees; (e)&nbsp;the Registrant is required to maintain
director and officer liability insurance to the extent reasonably available;
and (f)&nbsp;the Registrant may not retroactively amend the Bylaws indemnification
provision in a way that is adverse to such Covered Persons.

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Registrant has entered into indemnity agreements with each of its
executive officers and directors that provide the maximum indemnity allowed to
officers and directors by Section&nbsp;145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
and the Bylaws, as well as certain additional procedural protections. The
Registrant also maintains a limited amount of director and officer insurance.
The indemnification provision in the Bylaws, and the indemnity agreements
entered into between the Registrant and its officers or directors, may be
sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of the Registrant&#146;s officers and
directors for liability arising under the 1933 Act.

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exemption from Registration Claimed" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="007"></A></DIV>
<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exemption from Registration Claimed</B>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not Applicable.

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exhibits" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="008"></A></DIV>
<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exhibits</B>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="6%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="91%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Number</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Exhibit</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Instruments Defining Rights of Stockholders. Reference is made to the
Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A filed with the Commission
on August&nbsp;29, 1990 and Exhibit&nbsp;4.02 to the Registrant&#146;s Annual Report on
Form&nbsp;10-K405 filed with the Commission on March&nbsp;27, 2000 incorporated by
reference pursuant to Items 3(c) and (d).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion and consent of Gibson, Dunn &#038; Crutcher LLP.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Independent Auditors&#146; Consent.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.3</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Gibson, Dunn &#038; Crutcher LLP (contained in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages to this Registration
Statement on Form&nbsp;S-8).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.1</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">QDA, Inc. 2003 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.23 to the Registrant&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K
filed with the Commission on April&nbsp;2, 2004).</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-3
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Undertakings" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="009"></A></DIV>
<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Undertakings</B>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1)&nbsp;to file, during any
period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to
this Registration Statement (i)&nbsp;to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act; (ii)&nbsp;to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
Registration Statement; and (iii)&nbsp;to include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this
Registration Statement; <I>provided however</I>, that clauses (1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall
not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed with or
furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;1934 Act&#148;), that
are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement; (2)&nbsp;that for
the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each such
post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof, and
(3)&nbsp;to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
the securities being registered which remain unsold upon the termination of the
offering under the Plan.

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the Registrant&#146;s
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that
is incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial <I>bona fide </I>offering thereof.

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act
may be permitted to directors, officers or controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the indemnity provisions incorporated by reference in
Item&nbsp;6, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of
the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-4
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!-- link1 "SIGNATURES" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="010"></A></DIV>
<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8, and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of San Jose, State of California, on this 10th day
of May, 2004.

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3">CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ H. Raymond Bingham</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2">H. Raymond Bingham&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2">President, Chief Executive Officer and Director&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-5
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">POWER OF ATTORNEY

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints H. Raymond Bingham, William Porter and
R.L. Smith McKeithen, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in
his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his
substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="36%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="14%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Signature</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Date</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ H. Raymond Bingham<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
H. Raymond Bingham</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
President, Chief Executive Officer and<BR>
Director (Principal Executive Officer)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">May 10, 2004</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ William Porter<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
William Porter</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial<BR>
Officer (Principal Financial Officer and<BR>
Principal Accounting Officer)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">May 10, 2004</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Donald L. Lucas<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Donald L. Lucas</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chairman of the Board of Directors</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">May 10, 2004</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Susan L. Bostrom<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Susan L. Bostrom</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">May 10, 2004</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Sean M. Maloney<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Sean M. Maloney</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">May 10, 2004</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Dr. Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Dr. Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">May 10, 2004</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ George M. Scalise<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
George M. Scalise</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">May 10, 2004</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Dr. John B. Shoven<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Dr. John B. Shoven</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">May 10, 2004</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Roger S. Siboni<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Roger S. Siboni</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">May 10, 2004</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Lip-Bu Tan<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Lip-Bu Tan</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">May 10, 2004</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-6
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!-- link1 "EXHIBIT INDEX" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="011"></A></DIV>
<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">EXHIBIT INDEX

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="6%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="91%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Number</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Exhibit</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Instruments Defining Rights of Stockholders. Reference is made to the
Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A filed with the Commission
on August&nbsp;29, 1990 and Exhibit&nbsp;4.02 to the Registrant&#146;s Annual Report on
Form&nbsp;10-K405 filed with the Commission on March&nbsp;27, 2000 incorporated by
reference pursuant to Items 3(c) and (d).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion and consent of Gibson, Dunn &#038; Crutcher LLP.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Independent Auditors&#146; Consent.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.3</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Gibson, Dunn &#038; Crutcher LLP (contained in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages to this Registration
Statement on Form&nbsp;S-8).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.1</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">QDA, Inc. 2003 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.23 to the Registrant&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K
filed with the Commission on April&nbsp;2, 2004).</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

</BODY>
</HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-5.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>f98866orexv5w1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 5.1
<TEXT>
<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.1

                   [Letterhead of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP]

                                  May 10, 2004

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
2655 Seely Avenue, Building 5
San Jose, CA 95134

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Cadence Design Systems,
                  Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  We refer to the registration statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement"), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), filed by Cadence Design Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), with respect to the proposed offering by the Company of up to
47,970 shares (the "Shares") of its common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the
"Common Stock"), subject to issuance by the Company upon exercise of options
granted under the QDA, Inc. 2003 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan (the "Plan").
The options issuable under the Plan were assumed by the Company pursuant to the
terms of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 19,
2003, by and among the Company, Project Mendocino, Inc., a California
corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, QDA, Inc., a California
corporation, and David Marple, as Shareholder Agent.

                  We have examined the originals or certified copies of such
corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and/or public
officials and such other documents, and have made such other factual and legal
investigations, as we deemed relevant and necessary as the basis for the
opinions set forth below. In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness
of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us
as conformed or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such
copies.

                  Based on our examination mentioned above, subject to the
assumptions stated above and relying on the statements of fact contained in the
documents that we have examined, we are of the opinion that (i) the issuance by
the Company of the Shares has been duly authorized and (ii) when issued in
accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Shares will be duly and validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock.

                  We are admitted to practice in the State of California, and
are not admitted to practice in the State of Delaware. However, for the limited
purpose of our opinions set forth above, we are generally familiar with the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL") as presently in
effect and have made such inquiries as we consider necessary to render this
opinion with respect to a Delaware corporation. This opinion letter is limited
to the DGCL, as it presently exists and to the facts as they presently exist. We
express no opinion with respect to the effect or applicability of the laws of
any other jurisdiction. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this
opinion letter should the laws of such jurisdictions be changed after the date
hereof by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.

                  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we
are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act or the General Rules and Regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

                                       Very truly yours,



                                       /s/ GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>f98866orexv23w1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 23.1
<TEXT>
<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.1

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

The Board of Directors
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on
Form S-8 of Cadence Design Systems, Inc., to be filed on or about May 7, 2004,
of our report dated March 24, 2004, relating to the consolidated balance sheets
of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries as of January 3, 2004 and
December 28, 2002, and the consolidated statement of operations, stockholders'
equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for the years then ended, and
the Fiscal 2003 and Fiscal 2002 financial statement schedules, which report
appears in the January 3, 2004 annual report on Form 10-K of Cadence Design
Systems, Inc.

Our report dated March 24, 2004, contains an explanatory paragraph that states
that the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of December 28, 2002, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and
comprehensive income, and cash flows for the year then ended, have been
restated.

Our report also refers to our audit of the adjustments and revised disclosures
that were applied to restate the Company's Fiscal 2001 consolidated financial
statements as more fully described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial
statements. However, we were not engaged to audit, review, or apply any
procedures to the Fiscal 2001 consolidated financial statements of Cadence
Design Systems, Inc., other than with respect to such adjustments and revised
disclosures.

In addition, our report refers to the Company's adoption of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets on
January 1, 2002.



/s/ KPMG

Mountain View, California
May 7, 2004

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23.2
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>f98866orexv23w2.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 23.2
<TEXT>
<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.2

         CONSENT OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP, INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

The Registrant was unable to obtain the written consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
to incorporate by reference its report dated March 11, 2002. See Item 3.

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
