What is Calculations: 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. H

    B Software for quantum calculations?

    is there any decent free simulators or software for doing the massive integrals involved with square of wave functions, the area under the square of them. transition probabilities, average position etc for systems more complex than a particle in a box.
  2. E

    Verifying Complex Power Calculations

    Homework Statement Calculate the complex power delivered by the source V = 12cos(wt) V Homework Equations V = IR The Attempt at a Solution 1. I combined 8ohm resistor and 8j ohm inductor in parallel to get 4+4j ohms 2. I combined that with 4ohm resistor in series to get a Zth of 8+4j ohms 3...
  3. W

    Calculations involving a Forced Venturi system

    I have a model venturi I've created useing a air compressor letting the compressed air out of a small nozzle at the end of the air hose attached to the compressor. The nozzle is placed within a pipe causing the release of air directly torward the right of the pipe then to atmosphere leaving very...
  4. Wes Ellgass

    Simple harmonic motion calculations from doubling the mass.

    Homework Statement What will the new amplitude be if A=.117m and the mass is 0.1kg. The spring constant is 3.587N/m and the mass is then doubled. What is the new velocity max? What is the acceleration max? Homework Equations Fnet= -kx, vmax=A(ω), ω= √k/m The Attempt at a Solution...
  5. Meerio

    I Need help with some calculations with gravitational waves

    I have some questions about the first discovery paper that was released about gravitational waves, especially some of the maths. How did they: 1. Calculate the masses of the black holes that merged 2. Calculate the energy radiated away in gravitational waves 3. Calculate how far away the event...
  6. B

    Calculations with final result in electronvolts

    Homework Statement I have to do a calculation in electronvolt, using physical constants. The final result must be in electronvolts. I can grab the physical constant from scipy (python library). How do I know which constants I can keep in SI units, and which constants I have to transform...
  7. T

    Cooling Calculations: 5 Amp vs. 30 Amp Units

    Homework Statement If a 5 amp unit can cool 4 cups of water from 75 to 50 degrees fahrenheit in one hour, what temperature could a 30 amp unit cool 128 cups of water in the same amount of time? Is there enough information here to get an idea about what the 30 amp unit would do? If so where...
  8. Leonardo Machado

    Need more precision in the calculations....

    Hello friends, today i have this question about precision. Actually I'm trying to do a simple use of the pow function for a small number x=0.005 squared. By entrying pow ( x, 2) my console does not output the proper number 0.000025, but some memory error. I've read about it and i may be able to...
  9. Umar Awan

    Fractional distillation calculations

    Say I have got a super cooled cylinder of half hydrogen and half helium. This cylinder has a pressure of 100,000 Pascal's. At this pressure, hydrogen boils at 20 Kelvin and helium at 4.21 Kelvin. I hope to separate helium by cooling gas down to 4.21 Kelvin but I know that even at the...
  10. Harkaran Singh

    Heat Transfer Calculations for Hot Pipe Coil Setup

    Hi guys, I need help with heat transfer calculations The scenario is : Installing a coil around a hot pipe and extract the heat from the hot pipe to heat the fluid flowing through the coil. The whole assembly is insulated. I need methods/formulas to calculate the amount of heat transferred so...
  11. W

    B Calculate Force of Car Crash: Bill's Story

    Hi I am here asking for some help. I simply struggle with maths due to ahead injury sustained in a motor accident. I am trying to find out the forces that I suffered in the crash. I know from software forums people do not like doing other peoples homework, instead the goal is to help others...
  12. R

    Need to Calculate Power and Torque for a Wheelbarrow? Here's How!

    How can I calculate power and torque requirements for a device resembling a wheelbarrow using 12v battery and motor/gearbox drive?
  13. P

    Calculate Volume Flow & Distance of Sprinkler Holes | DIY Garden Project

    Hello, I do want to make a small sprinkler for my garden. As you can see it is a simple tube with one end sealed and the other end will be attached to the water hose. Now what I want to do is drill a couple holes to the sides of the tube and get a sprinkler like that. I would like to know how...
  14. sehrish shakir

    Neutron transport equation and pressure drop calculations in core ...

    i am a physicist now i am doing Ms in nuclear engineering ... i need to understand basic concepts ... neutron transport equation ? what is the transport phenomenon actually ? and pressure drop calculations in core ... please help thanks in advance
  15. AdamM

    Help with water pump calculations

    So i have this Diesel Water pump, i need to achive a pressure of 4 bars at the end of the hose, How to calculate the pressure in inlet to achieve the desired result of 4 bars at outlet. (Assuming that I'm using a standard hose of length 30metres, with a diameter of 2.5 inches) Pump FLOW RATE IS...
  16. A

    I Vulcan howl - aerodynamic calculations

    Hi guys and girls! Here's a hard one I need help wit. I really want it resolved because I sincerely love it. There's an aerodynamic phenomenon called 'the Vulcan howl'. Example: It occurs when engines are employed at maximum power or more (maximum power in aircraft is only a recommended...
  17. B

    Help with voltage threshold calculations

    Please can someone tell me if this calculation is correct? Please see attached question. I have used the +/-3V as the saturation voltage and multiplied it by R2/R2+R3 to give me +/-1.5V.
  18. S

    B Question about the math involved in E-field calculations

    When calculating the electric field from a point above a line of charge using coulomb's law, the integral that comes up is of the form \int { \frac { dx }{ { x }^{ 2 }+{ a }^{ 2 } } } . But if the point we were asked for is right in the middle, the horizontal (cosine) components cancel out...
  19. A

    Background required for ab initio thermodynamic calculations

    Can someone tell me the mathematical and physics background i need to perform ab initio calculations to determine thermodynamic properties of materials. I am a Mechanical engineer with a masters in Metallurgy
  20. zm1046838471

    A question about Monte Carlo calculations

    This is my first question here. I tried my best to work out it by myself but it didn't work. I'm reading Computational Methods in Physics and Engineering by Samuel S M Wong recently. I don't know how to deduce Eq.(7-2) on page 299 of this book. There are some paragraphs on this page as...
  21. F

    Pressure calculations in a manometer

    Homework Statement I have attached a picture of the question. Homework Equations P = pgh The Attempt at a Solution I can calculate pressures in a barometer using the simple rule that at same height the pressure exerted by tubes is same. But the same rule seems not to imply in manometers...
  22. K

    Calculations - some fundamentals

    Hi, that's my first post here.First of all – I do not want to ask someone to calculate something for me. I did my best (I hope correctly) – can you briefly check it and answer my additional questions? I am especially interested in these questions – I always have some doubts during calculations...
  23. D

    I Calculating SCUBA Depth with Exhaled Air and Terminal Velocity

    So if you were scuba diving and your depth gauge broke, could you create a system where you exhale some air and record the time it took to reach the surface. If so, what would they equation look like?
  24. physea

    How Does Cooling Affect Pressure in a Sealed Water Container?

    Homework Statement 1kg of water fills 151.1L of rigid container at pressure 2MPa. Then the container is cooled to 40C. What is the final pressure? Homework Equations Steam table properties. The Attempt at a Solution How can we know the pressure? I think it is wrong to assume that the specific...
  25. E

    Struggling with light calculations (incident power output)

    Hi guys, not sure if this is the right place. Its to do with an electronic project I've been working on. However please point me somewhere else if you know anywhere better suited! (It is quite a long post sorry) Basically, I have created an LED array used for stimulating cells with light and I...
  26. I

    Steam Calcs: Turbine Intake Pressure & 90% Steam Content

    Homework Statement The maximum steam pressure by the turbineintake is 550 C. Based on available cooling water the pressure in the condensor will be 0,06bar the isentropic efficency is 80 %. Decide the steam pressure at the turbine intake if the steam content is at least 90 % We have struggled...
  27. Planetx

    Calculate Tension of Two Wires: Physics/Precalc

    I am tasked to find the tensions of two wires by calculating the "magnitude of the vector" in a high school physics/precalc class. I have tried working out the equation in several ways but they all end up in an unsolvable format. So, in reference to the picture, A = 35 degrees, B= 30 degrees and...
  28. J

    Low RPM, high power calculations help

    Hi guys, Im trying to build an electric wheelchair with mecanum wheels, and as you might know, each of its 4 wheels has to be independently powered for the chair to have holonomic motion. With my desired speed to be around (brisk) walking speed only, say 1.15 m/s, and my mecanum wheels sized...
  29. J

    Engineering ALS logic family circuit calculations

    Homework Statement For the ALS logic circuit, estimate: (a) the current IOL (b) the delay in a 1-to-0 transition at one of the inputs of GATE 1 appearing as an effect at the output of GATE 5. (c) the total power consumed by the circuit in a quiescent state. Homework Equations /data[/B] The...
  30. W

    How to Choose the Right Materials for a Cost-Effective Compost Tumbler Design?

    Yesterday, I made a thread about creating gears in Inventor. I successfully created them, but now I have a few questions regarding material strength. Background: I am making an autonomously rotating compost tumbler for an engineering class. The design consists of a drum surrounding an axle...
  31. J

    B Day-related calculations for BC dates

    Dear All, Apologies if this question isn’t really in the right place. I wanted to check I’ve understood some data correctly. The link below shows lunar cycles all the way back to 2000 BC: http://astropixels.com/ephemeris/phasescat/phasescat.html. Suppose I click on a table and get a date of...
  32. H

    I How can I calculate uncertainty in my lab report data?

    Hi, I'm doing a lab report and for every number we need to calculate the uncertainty. I tried to calculate by using the SQRT of the number but i didn't get the same answer as my partner had? could you help me! These are the numbers and the uncertainty of my partner which i could not figure out...
  33. Tone L

    Storing calculations into a list

    I have a code that loops through and does some computation on 5 random values from my lists of data (2187 rows long). for i = 1:3 randomdata = round(rand(5,1).*2187); xval = x(randomdata) yval = y(randomdata) numerator = length(xval).*nansum(xval.*yval) -...
  34. FritoTaco

    Maximum Rod Diameter Calculation for Tension Test Specimen

    Homework Statement A ¼ in. diameter rod must be machined on a lathe to a smaller diameter for use as a specimen in a tension test. The rod material is expected to break at a normal stress of 63,750 psi. If the tensile testing machine can apply no more than 925 lb of force to the specimen...
  35. A

    How Do You Determine the Work Function of a Photoemissive Material?

    Homework Statement I need to calculate the work function of a photoemissive material. Light is shone through a photocathode (cathode) and the stopping potential V, is measured between anode (stainless steel) and cathode using a picoammeter) Following are the data measured/calculated ν = 1.402...
  36. A

    Electrical Efficiency Calculations HVAC

    Hi, I am trying to do a comparison of electrical efficiencies between 2 HVAC compressors but struggling to find formulas or calculations to figure it out. Can anyone help me?
  37. T

    Mousetrap Car Calculation Guide

    For my physics class, I did a mousetrap car and we were supposed to calculate some answer, and I would just like to know if I did my work right. Sorry, I know this is a lot of work. Homework Statement 1. Calculate your mousetrap car’s average speed. 2. Calculate the fastest velocity of your...
  38. A

    Simple Clamp Design Calculations?

    Hi there, I'm currently designing a C Clamp (or U clamp as some may call it), however I'm new to this and was wondering if someone could tell me what calculations I need to do? The clamp is to fit on a fence structure and can be re positioned horizontally or vertically depending on the fence...
  39. R

    How to specify parameters via calculations in 4 bar linkage

    Hi I'm looking to design a 4 bar compound linkage. I know how torque, force, power and angular velocity are transferred on four bar mechanisms. Could someone help me with compound four bar calculations? http://i66.tinypic.com/2jg6z9t.jpg The lower arrow shoes the input torque. I need to design...
  40. O

    Torque and Net Force Calculations

    Homework Statement The bar, of length AB=2m, with a mass of 6.00 kg. There are two weights, let's call them m1 and m2, hanging off the bar. m1 is 4.4kg, at 0.66m from point A. m2 is 2.0 kg, at 1.84m. The bar is suspended by two spring scales defined as F1 and F2 (assuming negligible mass)...
  41. Polar Bear

    Welding shear and normal stress calculations

    Hello, Does anybody know how to compute shear and normal stresses which take place due to applied load? My case is a simply supported beam (120x120x6.5 length: 4.2m) reinforced by a plate (20x120 length: 2m). Plate is welded on a top of a beam and external force (F=15 kN) is applied to the...
  42. ft92

    Doubt about Electric Field calculations

    Homework Statement Find the magnitude of an electric field intensity at a distance 12.9 cm, from the axis of a long, straight conductor, which has a radius 3.82 cm, and a charge density of 1.61 C/m. Homework Equations Gauss's law The Attempt at a Solution E= λ/2πrε0 Hello, I'm having some...
  43. N

    Engineering Calculating Power Loss and Input for a Permanent Magnet DC Motor

    Homework Statement A permanent magnet DC motor has an armature resistance of 0.4 Ohms. When a voltage of 110 V is applied to the motor it reaches a steady-state speed of rotation of 126 rad/s and draws 39 A. (a) Find the power loss in the armature (b) the power input to the motor I really...
  44. W

    Order of calculations solar system model

    I am really, really stuck! I am trying to write java code to model the solar system, or at least currently just earth, the sun and mercury. I've made a big mistake somewhere, the planets are very unstable and either move in a line or spiral inwards! I just wanted to check that I'm doing things...
  45. Ellie Snyder

    Black hole calculations, the "Event Horizon Telescope"

    Homework Statement Soon astronomers will be imaging the “shadow” of light from the event horizons of black holes. Since black holes are very small, this achievement seems impossible. Nevertheless, it is possible for three reasons: 1. Supermassive black holes have large event horizons. 2. Radio...
  46. J

    Kinetic Gas Theory Calculations

    Homework Statement Questions are attached to this thread. Homework Equations P =mv (P is momentum) P = F/A (P is pressure) F = deltaP/delta t (P is momentum) The Attempt at a Solution I have managed to do questions a-e which I was very happy with but then moving onto the extension has made me...
  47. S

    Help with Respiratory Physiology calculations

    Hi, I have recently conducted a Respiratory physiology practical, where i measured the lung v0olumes and capacities, using the technique of spirometry. I therefore recorded the FEV1, FVC, FER AND PEF values from the spirometry. However, i also had to collect and analyze the expired air; using a...
  48. G

    Design a Go Kart - Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

    Hi, i am a student of bachelors of mechanical engg. (2nd year). I want to build a go cart. But i don't know the basics. I don't know a thing about automobiles. I am learning the catia software for designing. But i don't know what kind of "calculations for go cart" must be required to design the...
  49. Donello

    I suck at Calculations, am I bad at Math?

    Hi,So honestly I suck at making Calculations in my mind, like guessing the result of 66 x 5 ! Does that indicate something about being bad at Mathematics ? Or it does not matter ?
  50. vino

    How choose k-points for 5*5*4 slab for band gap calculations

    Is there any method for how to choose k-points in band structure calculations for aluminium slab 5*5*4 can somebody help in this question? Thanks
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