Wolfram Research facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Computer software, Publishing, Research and Development |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Stephen Wolfram, Theodore Gray |
| Headquarters |
,
United States
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Key people
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| Products | Wolfram Mathematica, Wolfram Workbench, gridMathematica, webMathematica, Wolfram Alpha, SystemModeler, Wolfram Programming Lab, Wolfram One, Wolfram Engine for Developers, Function Repository, Neural Network Repository, Data Repository |
| Owner | Privately held |
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Number of employees
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~400 |
| Divisions | Wolfram Media Inc., Wolfram Research Europe Ltd. in the United Kingdom, Wolfram Research Asia Ltd. in Japan and Wolfram Research South America in Peru. |
Wolfram Research, Inc. is an American company that creates special computer technology. This technology helps people solve complex problems using computers. The company's most famous product is a program called Wolfram Mathematica. It was first released in 1988.
Other important products include WolframAlpha, Wolfram SystemModeler, and the Wolfram Programming Lab. The founder of Wolfram Research, Stephen Wolfram, is also the company's CEO. The main office for Wolfram Research is in Champaign, Illinois, in the United States.
Contents
What is Wolfram Research?
Wolfram Research is a company that makes powerful computer programs. These programs are used for many things, like doing advanced math and understanding data. They help scientists, engineers, and students with their work.
How did Wolfram Research start?
The company was started in 1987. One of its first big achievements was creating Wolfram Mathematica. This software changed how people used computers for math.
In 2009, Wolfram Research launched Wolfram Alpha. This is a special search engine that gives direct answers. It uses a lot of carefully collected information.
In 2011, the company introduced the Computable Document Format (CDF). This is a type of electronic document. It lets you create interactive content that can change as you use it.
In 2014, Wolfram Research officially launched the Wolfram Language. This is a new computer programming language. It is the main language used inside Mathematica.
Key Products and Tools
Wolfram Research makes several important software tools. These tools help people work with data and solve problems.
Wolfram Mathematica: A powerful math tool
Wolfram Mathematica started as a program for doing math on computers. Now, it does much more! It can handle things like neural networks (like a computer brain), machine learning, and image processing. It also helps with geometry, data science, and making cool visualizations.
One of Mathematica's best features is its ability to do symbolic math. This means it can solve math problems using symbols, not just numbers. For example, it can solve complex equations. Mathematica also has a special "notebook" where you can write and run your code. You can even use it to make slides for presentations.
Wolfram Alpha: Your smart answer engine
Wolfram Alpha is a free website that answers your questions directly. Unlike a regular search engine that gives you a list of websites, Wolfram Alpha computes the answer. It uses a lot of organized data to give you facts and helpful pictures.
You type your question or request into a text box. Then, Wolfram Alpha calculates the answer for you. For example, you can ask "What is the population of Earth?" or "How far is the Moon from the Earth?"
In 2012, Wolfram Alpha Pro was released. This version offers extra features for a monthly fee. Users can upload different types of files, like data tables or images. Wolfram Alpha Pro then analyzes this data for them.
There's also Wolfram Alpha Enterprise. This version is for businesses. It combines a company's own data with Wolfram Alpha's tools. This helps businesses answer questions about their own information.
Wolfram SystemModeler: Building virtual models
Wolfram SystemModeler is a platform for engineering and science. It helps people create and test virtual models. These models can be of machines, systems, or even living things.
It has an interactive environment where you can build models. It also comes with ready-to-use parts you can combine. SystemModeler works very well with Mathematica. This means you can develop, test, and analyze your models all in one place.
Publishing and Educational Resources
Wolfram Research also publishes many free websites. These sites are great for learning.
Online encyclopedias
The company publishes the MathWorld and ScienceWorld encyclopedias. ScienceWorld started in 2002. It has sections on chemistry, physics, astronomy, and biographies of scientists. These sites are valuable resources for students and teachers.
Interactive learning projects
The Wolfram Demonstrations Project is a website with interactive examples. These examples help you understand different topics. They run using a free program called Mathematica Player.
Wolfram Research also publishes The Mathematica Journal. They have also released several books through their publishing arm, Wolfram Media. They even experiment with creating electronic textbooks.
Media Connections
Wolfram Research has helped with television shows. They were the math experts for the CBS show Numb3rs. This show was about how math could be used to solve crimes.
See also
In Spanish: Wolfram Research para niños
- A New Kind of Science
- Ed Pegg, Jr.
- Eric W. Weisstein
