Calculating

While pocket calculators are still widely used in schools, computers are also becoming prevalent in mathematics and science classes. The large screens that computers offer can help students to see and understand mathematics in a way that most pocket calculators cannot. Computers can be used to plot graphs, to measure and analyze geometrical shapes, and to illustrate the principles of trigonometry. Moreover, the ability of computers to store, organize, and manipulate data makes them a powerful tool for just about any area of study.

Click on the questions below to learn more about the role of computers in various forms of calculation.

1. How can computers help math students?
2. What kinds of programs are available?
3. Is special software necessary for advanced mathematics classes?
4. How can computers be used in science classes?
5. Can the calculating abilities of computers any be applied in disciplines other than math and science?

Can the calculating capabilities of computers be applied to disciplines other than math and science?

Certainly. An economics class could use computers to plot charts and graphs of all kinds of financial data; for example, an economics class might simulate investment in the securities market by having students "buy" stocks with imaginary money and use popular money management programs to track and analyze the performance of those stocks.

Two popular money management programs are:
Microsoft Money
Intuit Quicken

A social studies class could use computer technology to gather statistics and tabulate all kinds of data about individuals and groups. For example, a class could gather and analyze data about a hotly contested election. A spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel might be a good choice for tabulating that kind of data.

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