Computational mathematics

A black and white rendition of the Yale Babylonian Collection's Tablet YBC 7289 (c. 1800–1600 BCE), showing a Babylonian approximation to the square root of 2 (1 24 51 10 w: sexagesimal) in the context of Pythagoras' Theorem for an isosceles triangle. The tablet also gives an example where one side of the square is 30, and the resulting diagonal is 42 25 35 or 42.4263888.

Computational mathematics is the study of the interaction between mathematics and calculations done by a computer.^[1]

A large part of computational mathematics consists roughly of using mathematics for allowing and improving computer computation in areas of science and engineering where mathematics are useful. This involves in particular algorithm design, computational complexity, numerical methods and computer algebra.

Computational mathematics refers also to the use of computers for mathematics itself. This includes mathematical experimentation for establishing conjectures (particularly in number theory), the use of computers for proving theorems (for example the four color theorem), and the design and use of proof assistants.

^ National Science Foundation, Division of Mathematical Science, Program description PD 06-888 Computational Mathematics, 2006. Retrieved April 2007.

[nsf-1] National Science Foundation, Division of Mathematical Science, Program description PD 06-888 Computational Mathematics, 2006. Retrieved April 2007.

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