FORMAC facts for kids
FORMAC was one of the very first computer programs that could understand and work with math problems using symbols, not just numbers. Think of it like a super-smart calculator that could handle things like x + y instead of just 2 + 3. Its full name, FORmula MAnipulation Compiler, tells you exactly what it did: it helped computers work with mathematical formulas.
FORMAC was created by a brilliant computer scientist named Jean E. Sammet and her team. They built it as an add-on to another popular computer language called FORTRAN IV.
How FORMAC Worked
FORMAC was like a special translator. When you wrote a program using FORMAC, it would first turn your code into a FORTRAN IV program. Then, that FORTRAN IV program would be run by the computer. This all happened automatically, so you didn't have to do extra steps!
When Was FORMAC Made?
Work on FORMAC began in 1962. It took about two years to develop, and it was finished by April 1964. By November of that same year, it was ready and released for use by IBM customers.
What Could FORMAC Do?
FORMAC was very powerful for its time. It could:
- Compute and manipulate symbolic expressions: This means it could work with math problems that had letters and symbols, not just numbers. For example, it could simplify equations or expand them.
- Handle rational arithmetic: This allowed it to work with fractions and keep them exact, instead of turning them into decimals that might lose precision.
FORMAC was a big step forward because it helped computers do more complex math and symbolic tasks, which was very important for science and engineering.
See also
In Spanish: FORMAC para niños
