numerical methods
Numerical analysis mathematics Print Cite Share Feedback Alternate titles: numerical methods, quantitative analysis Written by Kendall E. Atkinson Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Article History Key People: James H. Wilkinson William Kahan Related Topics: mathematics finite element method finite difference method See all related content → Summary Read a brief summary of this topic numerical analysis , area of mathematics and computer science that creates, analyzes, and implements algorithms for obtaining numerical solutions to problems involving continuous variables. Such problems arise throughout the natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, medicine, and business. Since the mid 20th century, the growth in power and availability of digital computers has led to an increasing use of realistic math...