What is Calculation: Definition and 1000 Discussions

A calculation is a deliberate process that transforms one or more inputs into one or more results. The term is used in a variety of senses, from the very definite arithmetical calculation of using an algorithm, to the vague heuristics of calculating a strategy in a competition, or calculating the chance of a successful relationship between two people.
For example, multiplying 7 by 6 is a simple algorithmic calculation. Estimating the fair price for financial instruments using the Black–Scholes model is a more complex algorithmic calculation.
Statistical estimations of the likely election results from opinion polls also involve algorithmic calculations, but produces ranges of possibilities rather than exact answers.
To calculate means to determine mathematically in the case of a number or amount, or in the case of an abstract problem to deduce the answer using logic, reason or common sense. The English word derives from the Latin calculus, which originally meant a small stone in the gall-bladder (from Latin calx). It also meant a pebble used for calculating, or a small stone used as a counter in an abacus (Latin abacus, Greek abax). The abacus was an instrument used by Greeks and Romans for arithmetic calculations, preceding the slide-rule and the electronic calculator, and consisted of perforated pebbles sliding on iron bars.

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  1. B

    Wind Turbine Reynolds number calculation verification

    Homework Statement Hi guys, I just wanted to verify my calculation of a reynolds number of a wind turbine. I understand that the reynolds number will vary in a spanwise direction along the blade due to changes in the characteristic length(chord width) and velocity(due to the tip speed...
  2. B

    Reynolds number calculation verification

    Hi guys, I just wanted to verify my calculation of a reynolds number of a wind turbine. I understand that the reynolds number will vary in a spanwise direction along the blade due to changes in the characteristic length(chord width) and velocity(due to the tip speed ratio). As a way to...
  3. A

    Calculation, design and prototype wheel hub drive

    Hello All ! Above is the title of the topic and am looking for inputs. Right now I am working on this as my thesis. And I am looking for some one how have already worked in the similar field for a better guidance for me. Thank you in advance. Regards,
  4. L

    Limiting Reagent Calculation

    Homework Statement Under appropriate conditions, the reaction of elemental phosphorus and elemental sulfur produces the compound P4S10. How much P4S10 can be prepared starting with 10.0 g of P4 and 30.0 g of S8? Answer 35.9g 2. Step Sources I'm following the steps from "General...
  5. S

    Calculation of volume after phase change

    Folks, It's been a while since I've done calculations like this so I was wondering if someone can help me calculate the volume of a gas at a specific temperature as compared to its liquid volume when measured below its boiling point. I can't seem to find a phase diagram for this material, is...
  6. ShayanJ

    Calculation of reflection coefficient

    I've got a problem asking for the reflection coefficient of a system consisting of a ideal conductor covered with a thin layer of lossless dielectric. I just don't know what to do.How can I do it? Thanks
  7. I

    MHB Is this correct? (Final grade calculation)

    my instructor has everything in percentages not points. the final was 20% of the overall grade. up until the final (80% of the course) i had a 92%. and i received an 88% on the final exam. so what i did was 0.8*92=73.6 and then i did 0.2*88=17.6. i then added the two and i got 91.something. did...
  8. S

    Compressed gas flow rate calculation

    Folks, I'm new to this thread. I'm a mechanical engineer, but I haven't done much fluids work since I graduated, 20 years ago. I have a question about calculating gas flow rate, so any help would be greatly appreciated. I have a design that I'm working on that will use a compressed gas...
  9. A

    MHB Power Flow Calculation for Generator Node: Understanding Different Results

    Hello. This is a power flow calculation of the generator node. I tried calculating several times but I still do not get the same values as this one. This one is the answer, by the way. Can someone explain to me why I got a different answer? I got...
  10. M

    Understanding Power Flow Calculation: Exploring Generator Node Results

    Hello. This is a power flow calculation of the generator node. I tried calculating several times but I still do not get the same values as this one. This one is the answer, by the way. Can someone explain to me why I got a different answer? I got...
  11. R

    Reynolds number calculation for undergraduate

    Calculate the Reynolds number at a location χ= 0.3m along the chord length of an aircraft wing at each of the following velocities;u= 20,40,60,80 and 100 knots. Assume International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) conditions for pressure and temperature. Take; R =287 J/KG;μ= 18 X10 -6 Kg/m s; 1 knot =...
  12. R

    Wind Turbine Power Calculation Equations

    Glad it's Friday? I will be if you can help me with this :D : I'm trying to understand an equation about calculating the power extracted by the blades of a wind turbine. I have spent a couple of hours going over it but still not making much more sense. I'm trying to find out why P =...
  13. T

    MHB Calculation of angles in normal anatomical curved bones that are fractured.

    Hi, I am an orthopedic surgeon. Many of our long bones are anatomically curved. When they fracture they sometimes heal in a none perfect/anatomic position. How do one calculate the angle/curve or changed angle/curve of a fractured bone healed or fixed none anatomically Please see my drawn...
  14. 9

    Need digital root calculation for large numbers

    for about first 429407636 pi digits where can i get such software or how can i calculate it? (i have 1b pi digits)
  15. A

    MHB Calculation of real integration

    Hi. Is there a short way to calculate real integration? I tried it but it looks so tedious. I attached the question so please refer to that. I am stuck with no.1, by the way. Here is my attempt: ∫_0^(2π) dx/(13 - 5*sin(x)) let u = tan(x/2) which means x/2 = arctan(u) which means x =...
  16. M

    Impact of trolley - hand calculation method

    Hello, Been a while since I posted on here, nice to be back :) . I just want some pointers as to the methodology for an impact load case that I'm looking at. I've attached a very basic sketch of a trolley which is traveling at a known velocity and impacts a rigid structure at it's base. What...
  17. C

    Kronecker delta symbol in calculation question

    As part of a physics calculation, I have the following integral $$\int d \bar x a^{\sigma} \left[-\partial_{\mu}\left(\frac{\delta x^{\nu}}{\delta a^{\sigma}}\right) (\partial_{\nu}\Phi )\frac{\partial L}{\partial (\partial_{\mu}\Phi)} + \partial_{\mu}\left(\frac{\delta x^{\mu}}{\delta...
  18. W

    Classical physics Time dependent vector calculation

    Homework Statement If A is a time dependent vector, calculate [itex] \int_{t1}^{t2} dtA(t) \times \frac{d^2A}{dt^2} [\itex] Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I think we should somehow relate it with something's derivative. \int_{t1}^{t2}A(t)\frac{d^2A(t)}{dt^2}dt=...
  19. P

    NPT monte carlo simulation pressure calculation

    Hello all, I have been working on an NPT monte carlo simulation. I would like to know how I can measure the instantaneous pressure of the system at each monte carlo step?
  20. R

    A calculation about coherent state

    Hi, there. The following is copied from a book " atom-photon interaction " by Prof. Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Page 415. I do not understand it at all. I do know some thing about the coherent state. such as ##a |\alpha\rangle = \alpha |\alpha\rangle## and ##|\alpha\rangle =...
  21. D

    Hall-Petch Relation Calculation?

    Using the Hall-Petch relation, estimate the yield strength, σy, of a Cu-Zn alloy (brass) when the average grain diameter is 30 μm. where: σy = is the yield strength σ0 = 25 MPa is the internal friction stress ky = 12.5 MPa·mm1/2 is a material constant d = is the average grain size...
  22. J

    Magnetic Field Calculation for Spherically Shaped Coil

    Hello, I'm attempting to calculate the magnetic field \mathbf{B} outside of a coil with current density, \mathbf{J}, and whose volume is a section of a sphere. Here is a diagram of the cross-section of the coil: (The wire ridges are aesthetic and aren't considered in the calculations - I'm...
  23. J

    Calculation -- Torque to slow down heavy spinning reel

    I am designing a brake system for big reel that weighs about 2500lb, spinning down on a truck that is moving at 15mph, the shaft is 2.5inch in diameter. It is rotating at 53RPM and it comes to a stop at about 45 seconds. How do i start performing calculations and the design parameters...
  24. A

    Calculation of power absorbed at agitator shaft

    I have with me an existing Agitator details of which are as below Motor= 2.2KW/ 3 HP, 1440 Rpm Gear Reducer = ratio 40/1 Agitator Shaft RPM= 36 Agitator Shaft dimension Length = 2500mm round bar , SS 304 Blades = 5 nos, 100 mm wide, 5 mm thick, dia = 2200 mm, at a distance of 400mm...
  25. T

    AC generator calculation question

    1. Calculate the emf induced in ONE side of a coil of length 0.4m and width 0.3m, when there are 50 turns in the coil and the flux density is 96.8 mT, and the coil is rotated 30 degrees from the vertical. Frequency is 50 Hz and the long sides are the ones facing the magnets.
  26. P

    Pressure vessel ideal gas calculation

    Hello all, As part of a research project, I am trying to calculate the amount of water/dry ice I would need to put in a cylindrical pressure vessel to obtain an internal pressure of ~100 psi at 200C (from room temperature, ~23C). I haven't had to do a calculation like this in awhile, but...
  27. U

    Effusion of particles from one box to another - pressure calculation

    Homework Statement Suppose we have a container divided into equal halves. Right half is fixed at temperature ##T##, volume ##V_2##. Initially it has pressure ##P_0##, a hole of area ##A## is opened between them. Part (a): Show that the pressure in the right half is: p =...
  28. A

    Need Help with Coolant Flow Calculation for Engine Heat Rejection?

    could any guide me in Coolant Flow Calculation for finding heat rejection of engine through various system.
  29. G

    Calculation of Nusselt # in thermally developing flow

    Hey y'all. I am working on a real application to the common textbook problem: fluid through a pipe with constant temperature wall. Find mean temperature profile of the fluid. In the textbook version, we assume the fluid is cold and it enters the hot walled region suddenly. We might also...
  30. C

    Calculate Rubber Band Force to Hold 5 kg Box Without Deforming >1mm

    Hello i need to know what should i do, Consider i have a box, top half and bottom half. so now i have to hold the top half and bottom half together with the rubber band then how do i know what rubber band will be enough to exert force so that both parts of box are hold together. also i...
  31. U

    Electromagnetism, calculation of B

    Homework Statement A very big iron plate with the thickness 2h have, far from the plates edges, had a hole with the radius a drilled through it. With respect to the holes axis of symmetry the plate has a magnetization \bar{M} = M_0 \frac{a}{s} \hat{s} where s is the distance from the axis of...
  32. T

    Electronic field calculation of 2 wires

    Homework Statement 2 1.2m nonconducting wires meet at a right angle. One segment carries +2.5*10-6 C of charge distributed uniformly along its length, and the other carries -2.5*10-6 C distributed uniformly along it. Find the magnitude and direction of the electric field these wires produce at...
  33. G

    Journal bearing reaction loads calculation

    Dear everybody here, Here is a problem to solve, from shigley handbook for Machine design, it's about Journal bearing design for the shown shaft in the attachment, i know how to design the journal bearing, but i am a little bit confused about how to get the reaction forces at the two points A...
  34. K

    Time dependent quantum state probability calculation

    For part a I have (H0-ω\hbarm)|nlm>, which I think the (H0-ω\hbarm) part is the eigenvalue of the Hamiltonian, also is the energies? And mainly, I am not sure how to approach part b, the time variable is not in any of the states. I saw this in our lecture notes: ψ(r,t)=∑Cnψn(r) e-iEnt/\hbar...
  35. U

    Simple Calculation of Astronomical Unit Problem

    Homework Statement The period of Mars is 1.881 years. When Mars is opposite the Sun in the sky, its position with respect to the background of fixed stars is measured at sunset and again at sunrise. The effective baseline between the two positions is 11,700 km and the change in position on the...
  36. D

    Standard Entropy calculation

    Homework Statement vapour pressures of a liquid have been measured and fit to the following equation: Log10 (mmHg) = -3571/T + 6.124 The melting point has been determined to be 392.7 K. A Cp value given for the liquid is 250 J/mol K and theΔSvap is 117 J/mol K Homework Equations...
  37. A

    Calculation of inlet pressure of the pump

    hello guys, i wanted to calculate inlet pressure of the pump( vacuum pressure). pump operates at 400 bar. pump works by sucking the grease from the inlet port of dia 7mm and delivers it through outlet port of dia 2.8mm. pump used here is piston pump. the force acting on the piston is 400bar...
  38. G

    Oil pump velocity calculation

    Homework Statement This problem is regarding an oil suction pipe, pipe A is the the suction pipe and pipe B is the delivery pipe. There is a pump in between which supplies a head of 11.3m. The pressure in pipe A is atmospheric and the pressure in pipe B is 850kPa. The vertical...
  39. K

    Kepler's Law sin[SUP]3[/SUP] i term calculation

    It's part c I don't understand, why the expectation value equals to solid angle * sin3 i? I mean, what role does the solid angle play? Thank you
  40. K

    Binary star period calculation

    The problem is attached, and the official answer is given. The step in the answer does not make a lot of sense to me. How does the luminosity L converted directly into distance d, and why is the solar distance is used? And where does the dm=0.75 come from. It's just not making sense to me...
  41. R

    Two Fourier transforms and the calculation of Effective Hamiltonian.

    Hi, The following contains two questions that I encountered in the books of Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, "Atom-Photon Interactions" and "Atoms and Photons: Introduction to Quantum Electrodynamics". The first one is about how to calculate two Fourier transforms, and the second one is a example of...
  42. A

    Quick pH calculation - Please verify

    Quick pH calculation -- Please verify A 50.0 mL aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide has a pH of 12.50. If 36.00 ml of 0.0200 mol/L sulfuric acid is added to this sodium hydroxide solution, what will be the new pH of the resulting solution? Assume that the temperature stays constant at 25C, and...
  43. S

    Calculation to determine PCB thickness

    Hi, In my design there are PCB boards. But i am worried the thickness of PCB will not be strong enough to withstand cracking and warp-age when under stress and strain. Is there any formula i can use to calculate vibration on the PCB so i can increase thickness via mechanical ribs...
  44. S

    Calculation of absolute electrode potential and salt bridge qns

    >According to http://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/redoxeqia/introduction.html each electrode has an absolute electrode potential which is the difference between the positiveness and negativeness. So if we had a Zn plate in water and it has a negative charge of -5 on the metal. Would the absolute...
  45. vanceEE

    What is the correct wavelength of the light provided by the laser?

    Homework Statement In Fig. 6.1 the distance from the two slits to the screen is 1.8 m. The distance CP is 2.3 mm and the distance between the slits is 0.25 mm. Calculate the wavelength of the light provided by the laser. Homework Equations $$asinθ = nλ$$ $$w = \frac{λD}{a}$$ The Attempt at a...
  46. L

    Engineering Short circuit calculation small network: gen motor transformer cables

    Hello guys, I have to make a short circuit calculation for school but I am a bit lost.. I have a copy off the IEC61363 and internet connection as my help lines. Homework Statement The network consists of a generator feeding to switchboard A with a cable in between, on the same...
  47. P

    Torque calculation needed for unique application

    For several years I have restored antique movie theater popcorn machines from the 1940's. I design and manufacture obsolete parts for these machines for restorers across the nation. I am currently prototyping a reproduction "popcorn stirrer flexible drive cable" and am in the process of building...
  48. D

    Laser facets reflectivity calculation from measured optical power

    Hi Every one, I measured optical output power from both laser facets, front facets emits 120 mW and back facets 10 mW. Assuming front facets reflectivity of 30%(for cleaved facets). What will be the reflective of back facets? Please suggest formula and reference this problem.
  49. D

    Crude Probability calculation for tunneling

    Say I have a potential barrier that is 4eV higher then an electrons energy and 5x10^-11 wide. Just by considering the change in amplitude of the wave function from the entry into the barrier vs the exit I am asked to make a rough approximation for the probability of tunnelling. I get the...
  50. T

    Biehle's Nova Physics page 3 error with volume calculation?

    1. The problem statement, all vbles and given/known data So I'm going throught the Nova Physics book and I'm wondering if there's a mistake in calculation. The question reads: How much volume does 0.4kg of oxygen gas take up at T= 27 degrees Celsius and P= 12 atm (gas constant R = 0.0821 L...
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