Mathematics
- The mother of all sciences:
Mathematics
is that branch of science that uses numbers and symbols arranged using a systematic
set of rules. The study of mathematics is based on reasons. It is an essential
subject of study in the modern age. It plays an important role in forming the
basis of understanding all other sciences. Mathematical studies can be divided
into two major categories. Pure and applied mathematics. Pure mathematics is
generally related to establishing mathematical proofs and not aimed at solving
real-world problems as essential. Applied mathematics, on the other hand, is
applied to other branches of science such as chemistry, physics, computers,
engineering, etc. It relies on a problem-solving approach and aims at finding
solutions to practical problems.
Hardware
to software - Paradigm Shift:
Centuries
before the introduction of Indian and Arabic numeral system, calculations were
performed on a counting frame commonly known as Abacus which was invented by
the Chinese in 500 B.C. Progressive efforts by intellectuals did make
improvements in calculation methodologies, but the mechanical devices served as
a bottle neck in increasing the calculation rate drastically. In the decade of
1940s, the founders of modern computers, Babbage and Leibnitz provided a
platform to automate certain repetitive processes by introducing punch cards
and magnetic tapes. That was the introduction of a raw form of software.
Developments in the computer industry, specifically on the hardware side, made
it possible for the machine to perform mathematical calculations at rates
millions of times faster than their predecessors. This is where scientists
teamed up with computer engineers and started developing extensive software pieces that could help
mathematicians solve their problems at a very high-speed and greater accuracy. Then
the introduction of user-interface and graphical representation of data
improved the overall quality of mathematical analysis work. Many companies
jumped into the business and developed software specific to mathematics. Mathematical
software is a software used to model, analyze or calculate numeric, symbolic or
geometric data. It is a kind of application software which is used to solve
mathematical problems. Presently, Wolfram Mathematical, MATLAB and Microsoft
Mathematics are most commonly used math software. These software are capable of solving simple algebraic problems as
well as a complex system of
multi-variable differential equations. They are
being used by students, researchers and professionals from various
fields such as engineering, space sciences, astronomy, fluid dynamics,
probabilistic risk analysis, business forecasts, and cryptography and even in
performing sports analyses.
Software
available in the market has many features in common, but each one of them has a
certain area of specialty. Some excel at
graphical user interface and representations, while others may be good at their
computation power. Some might compromise somewhat on accuracy whilst generating the results quickly, while
others might take a longer span but provide results accurate to a significant
number of decimal places along with a great
amount of detailed analysis. Hence, the selection of software is done by the user keeping in view the priorities
he considers for a given task.
Software
handshaking:
Modern math software are
able to interface with almost all other commonly used software. So let it be
report writing, importing/exporting data or printing a graph for a school kid's
homework, this software serve a handy tool for everybody.