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Name: strountree
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Around 1995
Question:
How often do you use math in your job? Do you use a calculator?

Replies:
As scientist/prof I use math in varying degrees: on a *good* day 90-95% would be a fair estimate. However, I do not use a calculator nearly as much as a mini-computer (VAX) or IBM-PC, both of which are "loaded" with MATLAB, the language of choice for a large number of applied mathematicians.

billrob

Hear, Hear! MATLAB is great. I have also used IDL which is very similar. I have heard that PVWAVE is also similar. Many of the scientists and engineers here at Lockheed use calculators a lot. Not everyone has a PC let alone a work station on their desks.

hawley

And I use a calculator once a month to balance my checkbook.

Actually, I use the computer an awful lot, and "awk" and "bc" are two of my favorite UNIX calculators, though they are a little non-user friendly. But, as a theoretical physicist, math in one form or another is my life!

asmith


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