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. F

    Subject with the hairiest calculations?

    some antiderivatives (partial fractions, trig sub, etc) can be nightmares to compute, but I remember series solutions of differential equations being worse, especially if finding the radius of convergence is included. can anyone think of things that are worse to calculate?
  2. C

    KD calculations (Organic chem lab)

    Chloroform is used to extract caffeine from water.If the distribution coefficient, KD=10.What relative volume of chloroform-water should be used to extract 90% of the caffeine present in one single extraction? Now i know that KD=Co/Cw and I've solved a question on how much weight of an acid...
  3. jimmy neutron

    K.p theory and bandstructure calculations

    Can anyone recommend any books that cover k.p theory so that a beginner may be able to (eg) get a realistic programme running? Perhaps aimed at the beginning PhD stage (so will have a good background in quantum mechanics)? I find journal articles difficult to follow, and have found no...
  4. olgranpappy

    VASP versus ABINIT for parallel calculations

    Does anyone here have experience using VASP (especially VASP 5.2) for parallel calculations? I'm currently using ABINIT (abinip, and abinip with the "paral_kgb" variables) and although the price is right (free), it has been giving me some problems lately. The input files for VASP and ABINIT...
  5. 3

    Rocket Calculations, wind resistance, Rectangular hyperbola

    The Basis of this question is that: * Rockets launched at an angle follow the path of a rectangular hyperbola when thrust greater than their mass is produced. * That rockets fall in the path of a parabola when thrust is no longer produced, this only applies when the rocket has both x and y...
  6. I

    Calculating Q for a Series LC Circuit: Where Did I Go Wrong?

    For a series LC circuit the Q I believe is Q= 1/R^(L/C). I have a 1.923 Henry inductor and a 4.4uF cap. The resistance in the inductor is 52.5 ohms. The answer I got was 111.86. I know the circuit can't have a Q of that value. Where did I go wrong?
  7. G

    Solving the Mystery of the Pigeon-Seeking Fall: Acceleration Calculations

    Homework Statement A very silly person, intent on catching pigeons on the roof of an apartment building, trips and falls a distance of 44.6 m. She lands on a metal garbage can, crushing it to a depth of 0.422 m and walks away without having been seriously hurt. What acceleration did she...
  8. A

    Strain Calcs: Convert mm/cm to m?

    Ok, an easy one I think? I am given an equation to work out the strain on a beam, the dimensions of the beam are in the equation (obviously) and in the question these are given in mm and cm, am I right in thinking all the measurements in the equation need to be in m and the question is trying to...
  9. B

    Paddle Wheel Torque Calculations

    I'm designing a paddle wheel drive house boat and need to do some calculations to see if the parts I have on hand can do the job. Paddle wheels will be 6' dia. with 8 paddles by 3' long . Paddles will be 3' long by 10" and will have the tops of the paddles submerged by 2" to 3" when the...
  10. J

    What is the Short Circuit Capacity for a 24 kW 3-Phase Generator?

    I have a 24 KW 3 phase 120/208 volt synchronous generator I bought from China and I am having trouble finding the available short circuit amps or the %Z rating. Is there a chart anyone is aware of for common short circuit capacities?
  11. Y

    Bicycle Helmet Physics - Momentum Calculations

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  12. S

    What are load calculations for a transformer?

    what are load calculations for a transformer? A 44kv line is distributed into the industry using around 8 transformers 3750kva, 2500kva and 1500kva. What does this mean and what are the load calculations for this? Also how is it distributed?
  13. G

    Can you show me if i did these calculations right?

    Homework Statement The specific heat of mercury is .03 cal/g C and its boiling point is 357 C. The specific heat of water is 1 cal/g C. It takes 65 calories of energy to vaporize one gram of mercury and 540*(edit) calories to vaporize 1 gram of water. If both substances begin at room...
  14. A

    Question on margins of error with calculations.

    Homework Statement I'm powering through some calculations on limiting reagents. My answers seem to be slightly off with the proper answers. I'm talking about minute differences but still differences all the same. The answer is very much well within the same ballpark. Would I lose some marks...
  15. W

    Rate of Climb Calculations (w/ 4 engine jet powered aircraft)

    I have this problem and it seems like it has a simple solution, however I can't seem to figure it out. Using the following values and the previous equation calculate the rate of climb for a typical airplane at an altitude of 8000m. 4 Engines each with 150kN of thrust. Aircraft mass is...
  16. V

    Receiver Pressure Equalizations Calculations

    I have a question about pressure equalization. I have 2 receiver thermically insulated (adiabatic) and connected via a valve, one receiver 10 cu/ft at 100 psig and 350 F, the other receiver is 1 cu/ft at 0 psig and 60 F. using n=1.406, what would be the equalizing pressure and temperature when I...
  17. P

    Bandpass Filter component calculations.

    Once again I'm going through all my old homework and taking the notes I should have done in the past, and I am stuck on calculating the components on a Bandpass filter. How would I go about this. I have the answers I just want to know how to find them. Thanks...
  18. N

    What's wrong with my calculations?

    1.The equilibrium constant is Kc = 85.0 at 460°C for the reaction SO2(g) + NO2(g)\UpdownarrowNO(g) + SO3(g) If 2.24L SO2, 4.48 L NO2, 2.24 L NO and 3.36 L SO3 (ALL AT STP) are transferred to a 5.00 L reaction vessel and heated to 460°C, what will be the equilibrium molar concentrations? 2...
  19. A

    Solved: Titration Calc: Find KOH vol to Neutralize H2SO4

    Homework Statement 2.0g of pure undiluted HsSO4 is cautiously added to water and the solution diluted to 500 cm3. What volume of 0.1M potassium hydroxide, KOH, would exactly neutralise 25cm3 of the acid solution? Homework Equations concentration = number of moles/volume mass in grams =...
  20. B

    Calculating Lift Capacity of Rotor Blades

    What calculation is the to find the amount a helicopter (or flying device using rotor blades) can lift? I would of thought I would need to take into consideration the RPM of the blades, the size of the blades and maybe the angle. I was hoping there would be some calculation telling me how much...
  21. F

    Complex power calculations formula

    I'm confused about a point concerning complex power calculations. The formula my text gives is S=V(eff)I(eff)*. I'm confused about what the conjugate is for I(eff). The way I understand it, I(eff) = I(rms) and I(rms) = I(m)/√2. Since I(m) is a real number, and I(m)/√2 is real, how is there a...
  22. D

    Exhaust gas heat exchanger calculations

    Hi Guys newbie here. Im trying to design a CHP system in which an engine with steady exhaust gas flow uses a heat exchanger to heat water for use around the home (central heating, washing water etc). The engine specifics are to be developed but i need to be able to size a heat exchanger so i...
  23. G

    Solving Inductor 12 Henry Discharge: R Calculations

    Homework Statement Inductor 12 Henry, energy supply is Emf knot. At t=0, the switch is opened which leads to rapid discharge along a resistor. The flash from the discharge lasted 50 ms. What is the resistance of the resistor? Homework Equations I know to use i=Ie^(-R/L) t but what...
  24. S

    Making of the jib crane & calculations

    Homework Statement Need to do calculations for the jib. The jib is 600 mm long and 40 mm wide. It is attached to a base at the bottom with a pin. The cable is going through from the motor, and at the top there is a pulley. We have to lift 2 kg of weight with a motor. The jib is very...
  25. P

    Are my Redox Calculations correct?

    Homework Statement 0.9966g of Iron Wire was used... Iron Wire was placed in 200cm3 of 1m Sulphuric Acid, this was heated and the hydrogen gas vented off... Producing... Fe + H2SO4 = FeSO4 + H2 Fe = Iron H2SO4 = Sulphuric Acid FeSO4 = Ferrous Sulphate H2 = Hydrogen This...
  26. N

    Anyone has done calculations with the Wess-Zumino model?

    This is driving me crazy. I am calculating the order g^2 (two loops) vacuum energy in the Wess-Zumino model, and I don't get a cancellation. The tadpole diagrams cancel out but the others don't. I have checked that I get the correct results for the one-loop corrections to the scalar...
  27. J

    Verifying Circuit Calculations: Is It Correct?

    Please see circut and question at http://www.flickr.com/photos/37144556@N07/3421275866/sizes/o/ Are these calculations correct? (a)total resistance= 6.25 25/6.25= I total = 4 v=ir 4x6=20v (b)v=ir so 20/10= 2amps power=vi so 2x25=50watts? Thanks
  28. M

    Angular Speed of Electric Fan: Calculations & Results

    An electric fan is running on HIGH. After fan has been running of 13.2 minutes, the LOW button is pushed. The fan slows down to 98 rad/sec in 1.83 seconds. The blades of the fan have a radius of 0.62 meters and their deceleration rate is 42.3 rad/sec2. a) What was the initial angular speed of...
  29. K

    Redox Titration Help [Calculations]

    I have a chemical practical coming up in a few weeks time and need help sussing out some questions. I know that the practical will be on redox titration between h2o2 and KMnO4, I wanted to know how I could determing the concentration of h2o2. Could someone run through a specimen calculation...
  30. S

    How Do You Calculate Dimensions for Wastewater Treatment Processes?

    I'm not sure where to start with these any help would be great. Not sure if this is the right place to put these questions but this site has helped before. Thanks 1) A treatment plant consists of a primary sedimentation tank followed by a trickling filter that removes 80% of the influent...
  31. S

    Forward euler calculations for position and orientation

    Hi, I'm trying to compute the equations of motion for a car as shown in the attached image. α = steering angle θ = orientation of the car relative to the world coordinate system Say you're given the linear velocity v and the steering angle α. How do you compute the position and angle...
  32. G

    Help with Flywheel calculations

    I am designing a kayak training machine as a final year project. Basically, the design consists of a frame supporting a weighted flywheel that provides the resistance. The flywheel is mounted on a shaft through bearing units in the frame and opposite direction sprag clutches are mounted onto...
  33. D

    How do I calculate the damage on a lightning pole from a car impact?

    Hey, I would like to design a lightning pole to be installed on the street (or in parking lots). The height of the pole is about 1m. I would like to calculate the impact of a car heating the pole in order to evaluate the damage to the pole (and to the car). I know the car mass...
  34. M

    Help on Electric Field Calculations for Test Preparation

    Hi I have a test next week and am currently on spring break so I don't have a teacher to ask for help, I just want to confirm that some of these answers are correct and get some help for others. 1. A line with a charge of density -2uC is on the x-axis starting at point x=1m to x=3.5m. Find its...
  35. K

    Calculating Air Pressure to Produce 200N of Force

    Ok, this is a very basic question, but for some reason my head can't work out the last bit and its making me doubt the workings... As the attached diagram shows, there is an air compressor attached to a piece of metal pipe that then has a piston on the end. The goal is to make this piston...
  36. S

    Calculations involving freefall

    Homework Statement A baseball pitcher throws a ball vertically upward and catches it at the same level 4.2s later a) with what velocity did the pitcher throw the ball? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I put this into givens t = 4.2 s displacement = 0 m if the...
  37. C

    Equivalence relations and connected components(Please look at my calculations)

    Homework Statement Hi I have justed switched to a new subject and have some question. 1) Show that if X is a topology space then there exist an equivalence relation if and only if there exist a connected subset which contains both x and y. 2) Show that the connected components are a...
  38. V

    Review of Electrical Field Calculations

    Hello, I have an assignment in my Electricity and Magnetism course that covers the last few chapters dealing with calculating charge, using Gauss's Law, and electric potential. I'm going through them right now, but physics isn't completely my strong point so I would really appreciate it if I...
  39. G

    Optimizing Gearbox Design for Efficient Power Transmission

    Hello Thanks for you help, I have to design a gearbox which will be connected to an electrical motor with a 11 Kw, 960 rpm, 42 mm shaft diameter, I want the gearbox to rotate a sprocket with a diameter of 337 mm in a speed of 40 rpm, I don't know how the gearbox is to be designed for the...
  40. J

    Should Uncertainty Dictate Significant Figures in Physics Calculations?

    My physics teacher said that our resultant answer should have the same number of sig. figs. as our uncertainty (he allows 2 sig. figs. at most); however, having done some of the problems, I get answers - when not rounded - such as 24.0 +- 0.1m, which when rounded to 1 sig. fig. results in 20 +-...
  41. D

    Nd:YAG pulsed laser calculations

    Hi I have a power meter that measures a Nd:YAG laser intensity with 20 pulses per second as 200 mW. The pulsewidth is 5 ns and I have information relating to the diameter and wavelength of the beam as 3mm and 216 nm, respectively. I also have an expression the intensity or power of the beam...
  42. S

    Displacement and Height Calculations with Velocity

    1. Homework Statement [/b] assume g = 9.81 m/s2, and friction can be ignored. A gun is fired horizontally at a target lying on the ground 188 m away, and the bullet hits the center of the target. The muzzle velocity of the gun (the speed with which it fires bullets) is 387 m/s. a) How...
  43. M

    Significant Figures: Dealing With Simple Calculations

    EDIT: I finished the assignment other than the two problems listed here, I got 91.66/100 but would love those last 8.44 points, I'll be checking in on this topic Thursday afternoon and might have figured it out by then but I am wary to waste my last attempt. So.. that's the update Ok...
  44. matt_crouch

    Gravitational Field Strength Calculations with a Pendulum

    As a pendulum can be used to calculate the gravitational field strength by using the equation Time period= 2(pi) sqrt (length/g) this equation assumes that the pendulum bob is moving in Simple harmonic motion. However at very small lengths the pendulum bob tends to move in a more...
  45. A

    First-Principles Calculations: Explained

    Hello, anyone knows a good article that describes the first-principles calculations please link or type the title of it, any idea what does it describes, appreciate your help. o:)42
  46. S

    Exploring the Physics of Siphon Height Calculations

    Hi there. Came upon another tricky question in my mcat prep book.. this one makes no sense to me. https://dl-web.getdropbox.com/get/siphon.PNG?w=389b1d3a "A siphon is used to draw water from a water tower. What is the approximate maximum height d at which the siphon will be capable of...
  47. J

    Physics Particle Movement Calculations

    Homework Statement A particle moves in such a way that its position z, in meters, is given as a function of time t, by the equation z = 2t^2 − 3t^3. At what times is the particle at position z = 0? (two answers; one is 6E-1) Homework Equations z = 2t^2 − 3t^3 The Attempt at a...
  48. K

    Approximate cross section calculations

    Hello Ive come across some approximate cross section formulas during a course of particle physics. And in a reaction like A + B --> R --> C + D the cross section should be something like \sigma = K\frac{\Gamma_R^{AB}\Gamma_R^{CD}}{(s-m_R^2)^2+m_R^2\Gamma_R^2} Where K is a constant (depending...
  49. S

    Chemistry Homework- Stoichiometry: Volume and Particle Calculations

    Chemistry Homework-- Stoichiometry: Volume and Particle Calculations This is only to check my work, and I may be updating this post with more problems. There are ten questions total, and this is NOT graded. Therefore, the help I receive goes toward my understanding, not my score. Homework...
  50. N

    Calculating Jet Fires: Length, Angle, & Heat Flux

    I am trying to calculate the effects of a Jet fire from a pipe rupture where the pipe contains flammable gas. I have come across a model by D.A. Carter which predicts the heat flux at a distance x from the fire. The problem that I have is that I want to also calculate the length of the flame and...
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