  In this work we compare semi-discrete formulations to obtain numerical
solutions for the 1D Burgers equation. The formulations consist in the
discretization of the time-domain via multi-stage methods of second and fourth
order: R_{11} and R_{22} Pad\'e approximants, and of the spatial-domain via
finite element methods: least-squares (MEFMQ), Galerkin (MEFG) and
Streamline-Upwind Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG). Knowing the analytical solutions of
the 1D Burgues equation, for different initial and boundary conditions,
analyzes were performed for numerical errors from L_{2} and L_{\infinity} norm.
We found that the R_{22} Pad\'e approximants, added to the MEFMQ, MEFG, and
SUPG formulations, increased the region of convergence of the numerical
solutions, and showed greater accuracy when compared to the solutions obtained
by the R_{11} Pad\'e approximants. We note that the R_{22} Pad\'e approximants
softened the oscillations of the numerical solutions associated to the MEFG and
SUPG formulations.
