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. L

    I am stuck on a calculation -- Entropy change for a compound system

    Hi, Unfortunately, I have problems with the task 4 In task 3 I got the following $$ T_f=T_ie^{\Delta S_i - c_i} $$ Then I proceeded as follows $$ \Delta S = \Delta S_1 + \Delta S_1 $$ $$ \Delta S =c_1ln(\frac{T_ie^{\Delta S_i - c_i}}{T_1})+c_2ln(\frac{T_f}{T_2})$$ $$ \Delta S...
  2. B

    B Which probability calculation is "more correct" in Baccarat games?

    Hello, this question isnt really much about calculation but rather which view point is more correct. See, in a gambling game called Baccarat a game is played where a player A ("player") and a player B ("bank") draw cards according to a fixed ruleset from a given card pot. First A and B both...
  3. cwill53

    Calculation of Electrostatic Potential Given a Volume Charge Density

    Part (a) was simple, after applying $$Q=\int_{\mathbb{R}^3}^{}\rho \, d^3\mathbf{r}$$ I found that the total charge of the configuration was zero. Part (b) is where the difficulties arise for me. I applied $$V(\mathbf{r})=\frac{1}{4\pi \epsilon _0}\int_{\Gamma }^{}\frac{\rho...
  4. C

    Help for bending calculation rectangular steel tube

    Hi all In order to make a metal preframe for a French window as an entrance door, I began to estimate the possibility of building it in rectangular steel tubes of 100 x 50 x 3 mm, laid independently of the walls that could not accept such a load because it was timber framed. The preframe will...
  5. E

    I Calculation of gravitational redshift in an accelerating elevator

    When we derive the formula of the redshift by the equivalence principle we imagine a light ray which goes from the bottom to the top of the elevator and which would take a duration t = h/c to make the journey, with h = height of the elevator. I don't understand why t = h/c, because while the ray...
  6. Franklie001

    Engineering RLC circuit -- Phasor Transfer Function calculation

    Good morning, I need some help solving those two question. I've attached my attempted solution below. Could i solve the transfer function any further? Thank you for your help
  7. S

    Simple Fourier transformation calculation

    So, ##\hat{p}(\omega)=\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} p(t)e^{-i\omega t}\mathrm{d}t=A\int_{0}^{\infty}e^{-t(\gamma+i(\omega+\omega_0))}=A\left[-\frac{e^{-t(\gamma+i(\omega+\omega_0))}}{\gamma+i(\omega+\omega_0)}\right]_0^\infty,## provided ##\gamma+ i(\omega+\omega_0)\neq 0## for the last equality. Now...
  8. I

    B Distance of Stars / Size of the Universe calculation

    Hi, I am a new user, This question is bothering me for a long time and now with all the Webb telescope hype I need to ask: It sounds very logical to think that a star that is a billion light years away is seen as it was a billion years ago because the light took 1 billion years to get here...
  9. B

    I Flow rate calculation of coating application

    Dear all, I'm currently working on a basic coating application and I'm struggling to get the flow rate stable. I'm trying to figure out how to calculate the theoretical flow rate in the application. The coating is stored in a pressure tank, which we put on an overpressure of 15psi. From the...
  10. simphysics

    Current calculation of a Y-junction

    Hello everyone! I've been trying to solve this circuit but there's something wrong. Firstly, I made a Delta-Y conversion so that1 and zA were in series, and so were z5 and zb. I really don't know if writing "I0=IA-IB" is correct, cause basically I0 is the current that flows between the nodes A...
  11. shivajikobardan

    Calculating Modulo for -3 and 26: Understanding the Remainder Calculation

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  12. A

    How useful is a symbolic calculation tool?

    How often during your work do you use a symbolic calculation tool like Mathematica / Maple / SymPy? Is it worth learning(especially for a theoretical physicist)? Thank you.
  13. yklee

    Ising model autocorrelation function calculation

    Dear Mr. and Ms., I am trying to measure the autocorrelation functions of 2D ising model based on the equation given by where A(t) denote a measure. I calculate a c(t) of magnetization. I calculated in this way data_path = f"../../trajectory/data.txt" data = np.loadtxt(data_path)...
  14. ergospherical

    I Calculating Particle Redshift at Time t_0 & t_1

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  15. freelooooo

    How does Cmax decrease over time in human body? Use half life?

    I'm interested in chemistry but it's all new for me and I'm just starting out. I tried to do some calculations but got stuck... I was wondering, for example a supplement has the following values: Molar mass: 306.247 g mol-1 Tmax 2-4 hours Cmax 363.3 ng / ml Half life: 11.21 hours How do...
  16. mcconnellmelany

    Investigating Lagrangians and Constraints for Tension Calculation

    I had used the same constraint as the solution manual says. So my two Lagrangian would be ##L_1=\frac{1}{2}m_A\dot{x_A}^2+\frac{1}{2}m_B\dot{x_B}^2+\frac{1}{2}m_C\dot{x_C}^2+m_Cgx_C+T(x_A+x_B+2x_C-c)## whereas c is just a constant. Of course, I have to write my Lagrangian using constraints...
  17. C

    I What is the Order of Integration in a Double Integral?

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  18. M

    MCNP Flux and Power Calculation

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  19. JandeWandelaar

    A Has a calculation of the vacuum energy density been done with strings?

    The calculation of the vacuum energy density gives us a discrepancy with reality. There should be a mass equivalent of about $10^{96}$ kilograms. I'm wondering if the assumed point-like "structure" of particles could be the cause of this wrong value. Since string theory doesn't assume a...
  20. C

    A Convergence issue in this Least Squares calculation

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  21. N

    Electric Potential Field Calculation

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  22. T

    I Numerical Calculation of Hamiltonian Overlaps

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  23. T

    Mathematica Mathematica Eigensystem Calculation Taking Too Long

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  24. M

    Find the missing digits in the calculation below

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  25. E

    I Antenna inductance calculation (RFID applications, inductive coupling)

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  26. Y

    Graphical Impulse calculation from the graph of force verus time

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  27. S

    B Calculation of displacement of an object

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  28. S

    MHB Calculating Acceleration on the Surface of Venus

    Friends, hello everyone! Please help with this calculation. The mass of Venus is 81.5% that of the earth, and its radius is 94.9% that of the earth. (a) Compute the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of Venus from these data. (b) If a rock weighs 75.0 N on earth, what would it weigh at...
  29. A

    Voltage Drop in Parallel Receptacle Wiring

    I know how to solve the question but I am a bit confused about why there is a current of 3 A and a voltage of 110 V requirement for the refrigerator but the power plant only supplies 110 V. How can there be a voltage drop on the refrigerator load of 110 V, when there is also a voltage drop on...
  30. A

    I Calculation of electric flux on trapezoidal surface

    I am confused at this calculation of the electric flux through a trapezoidal surface. The flux in should equal the flux out. The flux in equals -E*A1 where A1 is the area of the bottom of the trapezoid. The flux out equals E*A2 where A2 is the area of the top of the trapezoid. But the two fluxes...
  31. K

    I String theory calculation of Extremal black hole entropy problem

    one of the claimed successes of string theory is its ability to derive the correct Hawking-Bekenstein equations to calculate the quantum entropy of a black hole without any free paramenters, specifically Extremal black hole entropy using supersymmetry and maximal charge. I was wondering if...
  32. A

    Need of Tangle calculation using code and Numerically

    = tangle equation = Inequality condition = partial trace formula. To find the tangle, we need the square concurrence value of ABC states as mentioned in a tangle equation. I am not able to find the value of square concurrence.
  33. amgc63

    What is the length of each side of a resonant dipole to receive 12MHz?

    Hi, a question: Construct a resonant dipole to receive 12MHz. Answer; λ = c/f = (3x10^8) / (12 x10^6) = 25m The dipole length λ/2 = 12.5m The length of each side dipole is 12.5m/2 = 6.25m Im confused, isn’t it the answer is 12.5m? Why require to divide 12.5m/2 again to get the answer...
  34. DC2

    A Calculation of EM fields induced by an antenna in the near field

    The title pretty much covers it. I'm having to calculate the field induced inside the human body by an antenna in the near field (essentially, a phone placed close to a user's head), and I'm drawing a blank on how to relate the field generated by the antenna to the field induced inside the...
  35. runningphysics

    Incorrect Calculation of Time for Reactor Energy Phase Change

    I tried using the equation Q'*t= Q1+Q2. Where Q' is the energy of the reactor aka 200,000 kJ and t is the time. Take Q1 to be (1/2m*2257) and Q2 to be (1/2m*4.184*90). The 90 is the change in temperature for the phase change to occur from liquid water to gas, or boiling. Plugged everything in...
  36. 1

    A Nutation calculation per Meeus: unsure how to proceed

    In Astronomical Algorithms, Meeus gives a table for periodic terms for nutation in longitude (Δψ) and obliquity (Δε) according to the 1980 IAU Theory of Nutation. I'm unclear how the table should be used. Do I: Use each row to generate the argument of trig functions, presuming D, M, M', F and Ω...
  37. M

    Motor calculation for a rotating platform

    Hi! My team and i have been stuck in this school project for awhile. Been reading up a lot but can't find the answer. We have been designing and rotating platform that is able to rotate a load of 2000kg. So the rotating platform would something similar to those car turntables where there would...
  38. K

    I A calculation of microstates

    *Pathria, Statistical mechanics pg 11,4ed* The text is long but it is straightforward. The question is at last about the equation given at end In order to find the number of microstates ##\Omega(N,V,E##) author writes " In other words, we have to determine the total number of (independent)...
  39. Dario56

    Extraction Flash Calculation - 4 Component and 2 Phase System

    I am performing extraction flash calculations for 4 component and 2 phase system. For anyone somewhat shaky with what extraction flash calculation is; extraction is performed, feed composition is known and we are calculating compositions of both phases at equilibrium, mole fraction of every...
  40. MadelineChoate

    Toroidal Inductor Flux Calculation

    Summary:: A 4.3 mH toroidal inductor has 100 identical equally spaced coils. If it carries an 11.6 A current, how much magnetic flux passes through each of its coils? Express your answers in milliwebers. 4.3 mH= (Wb/A) 100= N 11.6= I Φcoil= ? So from my observation of another question...
  41. greg_rack

    Engineering Transverse shear stress calculation in non-slender built up members

    Hi guys, this is an exercise I have been tasked to solve for an assignment. First of explaining you what I have done to solve it using the shear equation, in order to find the maximum shear stress and the shear flow in the juncture, one big question: how is it legal to utilize the shear formula...
  42. deFe_9807

    A Calculation of dipole and quadrupole momentum of CO

    This is my first post of this topic so I hope it is in the correct place. I need some help to figure out the using of GAUSSIAN in order of calculate the dipole and quadrupole moment for the carbon monoxide molecule with different levels of theory (SCF and Post Hartree Fock methods). In...
  43. ektov_konstantin

    How can vacuum heating be calculated for substrates in a chamber?

    Hello, everyone! I am calculating the time of substrates' heating in the vacuum chamber. It is a simple mathematical model to calculate roughly how much time does it take to heat polycor substrates in the vacuum chamber. At least all the tube heater`s power heats the substrates (this is...
  44. rh2022

    B Simple Counter-balance/Counter-weight Calculation Problem

    Hi, I am trying to figure out how much weight is needed to counter balance a pole stand where an object(m kg) is hanging. I also want to know which is more effective way to place counterweight as shown in the picture below. I was wondering if the counterweight A, B, and C are equal. It seems...
  45. Buzz Bloom

    I Please check my calculation of the radius of a finite universe

    My source for Ωk and H0 is https://www.cosmos.esa.int/documents/387566/387653/Planck_2018_results_L06.pdf , page 40, equation 47b. Ωk = 0.0007. Page 15 equation 13 has H0 = 67.27 km/(s Mpc). The formula I used is R = (c/H0) (1/Ωk)1/2 . ( I did have a reference for this, but I misplaced it, and I...
  46. MathematicalPhysicist

    A A Calculation of a Form Factor at large ##q^2##

    On page 180 they write the following passage: My question is how do I get ##F^M_{(0,0)}## from ##F^M_{(0,0)}(q^2)## for large ##q^2##. I tried using Mathematica's free input to get the series ##1/(1+x^2)^2=1-2x^2+3x^4+O(x^6)##, in our case ##x=\gamma/q##. But it doesn't seem to fit the result...
  47. N

    I Need help coming up with an equation for a bend angle calculation

    Apologies if this is the wrong forum. I have an application where I need to measure the bend angle of a tube and display the resulting angle on a screen. I am using a laser mounted in a fixed location which reports distance back to my controller, (scaled to millimeters.) I am measuring from 92...
  48. Marilyn67

    I Relative Simultaneity: Comparing 2 Incompatible Calculation Methods

    Hello, Hope you had a merry Christmas, :wink: In order to deepen some knowledge on the notion of relative simultaneity, I studied a graph taken from a video, and the ages of the twins being very very rounded, I decided to make precise calculations using two methods different. I would like to...
  49. M

    Engineering Torque calculation of a motor with permanent magnets

    $$Vstator_{peak} = 120√2 *√2 = 240 V$$ $$Istator_{peak} = i_{q} (current on q axis)= 20*√2 = 28.2842 A $$ $$ω{15} = Ω_{15} * p = 2π * 15 = 94.2477 rad/s$$ $$ω{15} = Ω_{15} * ψ_{pm}$$ Hence $$ψ_{pm} = e0/ω15 = 168.3V/94.2477 rad/s => ψ_{pm} = 1.79 Wb$$ $$M = 3/2 * p * ψ_{pm} * iq $$ Hence $$ M...
  50. S

    Calculation of the Berry connection for a 2x2 Hamiltonian

    This isn't technically a homework problem, but I'm trying to check my understanding of the geometric phase by explicitly calculating the Berry connection for a simple 2x2 Hamiltonian that is not a textbook example of a spin-1/2 particle in a three dimensional magnetic field solved via a Bloch...
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