Talk:Calculation

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Greek derivation

The sentence "Calculate comes from the Greek word Κάχληκα or gravel in English because Greeks used gravel for counting." at the beginning of the section Comparison to Computation was added 17:35, 31 October 2011 presumably by a Greek speaker. However, I have not been able to confirm that Κάχληκα (transliterates to Káchli̱ka) in any online source. Furthermore, gravel is translated as χαλίκι (chalíki) which seems more reasonable. Also, this etymological information contradicts the last paragraph of the intro (which is supported by etymonline.com) and doesn't have much bearing on the section. Perhaps the last intro paragraph and any valid Greek info can be placed in a separate Etymology section? JmA (talk) 03:04, 29 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Huh?

What do the last two sentences refer to, exactly? Foreign words meaning "to calculate?" What purpose do those two sentences serve in the article? If nobody can explain it, I'm going to go ahead and delete them. In fact, I'm going to delete them now, and if anyone can clear them up, they can be reinstated and improved. --Jay (Histrion) (talk • contribs) 14:14, 9 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

whats 6^{Superscript text}7 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.246.140.35 (talk) 20:15, 13 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Comparison to computation

I'm not convinced with this section. According to the Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics the word calculate means "To work out the value of a mathematical or arithmetical procedure, or the output of an *algorithm". In the same dictionary computation means "A calculation" and definition under compute is simply "= CALCULATE". — Preceding unsigned comment added by Yoga Conflagration (talk • contribs) 00:21, 6 September 2015 (UTC)[reply]

There is a danger in using dictionary definitions as the basis of any argument. Dictionaries are not meant to be comprehensive, encyclopedias are. The term being used here has connotations in computer science which are not reflected in the mathematical use of the term. As we are writing for a broader audience than just mathematicians, we need to be cognizant of such differences and expose rather than hide them. This is the reason I reverted your edit. I am not a computer science expert and I do not know whether or not your edit was reasonable, but it was clear to me that the reason you gave for it would not hold water and that a wider discussion of the issue would be needed before this was deleted. Bill Cherowitzo (talk) 22:02, 6 September 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Societal trust in calculation

I propose we edit in a brief section that explains why calculations are so important and decisive: because societies invest much trust in calculations; and that trust has historically-socially been established and is subject to social and historical change. Ingmar.lippert (talk) 14:27, 3 January 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Non-mathematical calculation?

I have noticed a trend in certain dialects of English (chiefly American English) of using the phrase "Mathematical calculation" implying the existence of non-mathematical calculation which I do not understand. This is why I came here. It's never been used in conversation with me personally where I could interrogate the speaker on this, but simultaneously I have not found any material which outlines calculation outside of a mathematical context. The closest would be something like "to use logic", however I consider logic to be a branch of Mathematics. Can anybody clarify for me? WikiXenoph (talk) 17:52, 5 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Evaluation vs Computation vs Calculation

I think a consensus is necessary here, because there are similar terms which can cause confusion for those who try to understand them. I don't think a calculation always needs to be evaluated; I mean, the result can be an undefined value and not necessarily well-defined.

Computation usually implies a mechanical process, but a "computer" can calculate any expression. Historically, the distinction between "calculation" and "computation" wasn't so evident, and the terms seem interchangeable. Around the 20th century, "computer" came to be used largely for a "mechanical computer", though it can also make sense to view it as an "assistant for calculation". From the perspective of someone who needs another person or thing to carry out a calculation — which I won't do myself — the "computer" is that other who performs the calculations. A calculator would be me: the one who asks someone else to do additional calculations beyond those I'm already doing.

Evaluation, on the other hand, doesn't always have the mathematical object because when a value is "unspecified", the evaluation isn't valid or specified. However, the calculation may be. JuUunIOr (talk) 14:37, 29 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]