Number Crunching Research Articles

Marshall sklare: In memory

The work of Marshall Sklare, founding father of American Jewish sociology, teaches us three lessons: to value the importance of studying history; to value the power of creative insights more than mere number crunching; and to value taking intellectual risks.

Engineering software-'abstract' math made practical

A wide variety of mathematics programs that carry out exploratory analysis data, develop new algorithms for signal analysis, and analyze a whole host of engineering applications are discussed. As a group, math programs are diverse, but large subgroups are identified, based on how they are principally used. The subgroups are: exploratory math analysis, number crunching, and general math. Current offerings on the commercial mathematical software market are described. A listing of many of the programs currently available, which includes an outline of platform availability, requirements, and enhancements, is presented.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

A History of the Lords of Number–Crunching

A History of the Lords of Number–Crunching

A History of the Lords of Number--Crunching

(1992). A History of the Lords of Number–Crunching. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 99, No. 10, pp. 907-916.

RJR Nabisco: A Case Study of a Complex Leveraged Buyout

Several features of RJR Nabisco made it a particularly attractive LBO candidate. Its operations exhibited moderate and consistent growth, required little capital investment and carried low debt levels. Its problems-a declining return on assets and falling inventory turnover-appeared fixable. And it offered significant break-up value. Valuing RJR's equity at the time of the LBO requires detailed knowledge of the company's operations and extensive number crunching. The analysis is obviously quite dependent on the assumptions made about cash flow in the post-LBO period, as well as the long-term, steady-state growth rate. Nevertheless, the figures suggest that, even assuming a high, 5 per cent level of steady-state growth, RJR's cash flows would have to grow at a rate of at least 18 per cent per year to justify KKR's bid of $109 per share. RJR's board played a prominent role in the bidding process. By setting the bidding rules, the board successfully minimized the possibility of collusion and thus increased potential gains to stakeholders. The decision to accept KKR's offer over RJR management's higher bid appears to reflect the board's concern for employees and existing shareholders.

Engineering software – a structural consultant's perspective

The advantages that automatic computing offers in structural analysis, design, and drafting are now well known. Computers offer great speed and accuracy in the process of analysis and design, relieving the engineer of the drudgery of number crunching, permitting more time for innovation and creativity, and affording the opportunity of trying out several design alternatives. However, to realize the productivity gains and the improvements in design quality that computers offer, the engineer must be aware of the many pitfalls and problems associated with computerization: the financial commitment, the need for training, the difficulty in obtaining quality software, and the risk associated with using unreliable software compounded by the inadvertent complacency that computer usage may encourage. This paper attempts to provide an overview of the issues involved in computerizing a structural engineer's office. The advantages and disadvantages of computerization are discussed. The additional management responsibilities that computerization brings are highlighted. The types of software usually needed in a structural office are outlined. The constituents of good software are discussed with reference to user interface, analysis and design procedures, output, documentation, and program architecture. Finally, the concept of computer integration in structural design is explained and an example if provided to illustrate the technique. Key words: structural, computer, software, consultants, buildings, integration.

An expert system for online security-economic load allocation on distribution systems

A description is given of the development of a knowledge-based online consultant which assists power-system operators in a distribution SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) environment. In particular, the allocation of loads to outgoing feeders during the normal state is performed as a preventive measure for minimizing overloads of apparatus following a fault on a substation. By performing this, load distribution to the four main busbars of a typical 132/11 kV zone substation is distributed to a predetermined nominal ratio. After the contingency tripping of one 132/11 kV transformer, switching of busbar interconnectors and bus-sectioning switches (busbar reconfiguration) could then be carried out with relative ease, without exceeding the substation's firm capacity or interrupting supply to consumers. The knowledge-based system is run on a personal computer using PROLOG for symbolic computation, as well as FORTRAN and C for number crunching.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Decision Making, Scaling, and Number Crunching

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this note is to comment on the artificiality of using known scales of measurement (or conveniently improvised numbers) to make decisions. In particular, the pitfalls of trying to please the decision maker and of using normalization as a number crunching tool are discussed. Finally, an example is given to show what is needed to develop a workable and theoretically sound theory for multi‐criteria decisions and to show that the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) meets these demands.

Developing Engineering Design Software Using Hypercard

The Hypercard software, recently introduced for the Apple Macintosh computers, has attracted a lot of attention. The literature portrays it as a sophisticated information management system. Most applications written using this software are business oriented. This paper examines its potential as a tool for developing sophisticated engineering design applications. Basic concepts of Hypercard and its associated programming language, called HYPERTALK, are presented. Details are given for the development of a stack for design of axially loaded steel columns. Based on this experience, it is concluded that Hypercard offers an ideal environment for developing highly interactive design modules requiring relatively less “number crunching.” The overall development time is reduced dramatically.

A low‐cost microcomputer system for interactive graphical processing of geophysical data on magnetic tape

In a recent Eos article (“Applications of Personal Computers in Geophysics,” Eos, November 18, 1986, p. 1321), W.H.K. Lee, J.C. Lahr, and R.E. Haberman described the uses of microcomputers in scientific work, with emphasis on applications in geophysics. One of the conclusions of their article was that common microcomputers are not convenient for processing of geophysical data in a high‐level language such as Fortran because of the long times required to compile executable programs of only moderate size. They also indicate that common personal computers (PCs) are usually not equipped with tape drives and are not powerful enough to do heavy input/output (I/O) or “number crunching.” The purpose of this note is to supplement the material that Lee et al. presented by describing a relatively low‐cost microcomputer system that is capable of performing interactive graphical processing of meteorological data on magnetic tape in a variety of computer languages, including Fortran.

TSIOPAK—a proposal for a new Sharp APL file system

Communication between OS files is often necessary when information that is manipulated and stored in Sharp APL files is required to be used by non-APL routines. For example, one may use APL for number crunching and have the output processed by SAS or FORTRAN to plot the data. The arising demand for procedures that would make data accessible from APL to other systems motivated the author to take action. TSIOPAK was developed with the intention to provide a standard interface between Sharp APL and the MVS operating system facilitating the accessibility of data created through APL and other languages. In addition, the reader will find that starting from the section titled the TSIOPAK File System, the format for each section looks very much like the Sharp APL Reference Manual. This is not a coincidence, what the author has tried to achieve with this work is to have a file system functionally identical to Sharp's using OS files. The author's efforts have gone as far as trying to replicate the format of Sharp's manual. In addition, parts of the Sharp APL File System have not been implemented in TSIOPAK due to the lack of time and resources. Hence, this paper is a proposal for a new file system which would make APL-generated data generally available.

Number crunching in C

Number crunching in C

Large Integers with Small Numbers

One of the first applications of a microcomputer in the mathematics classroom is “number crunching,” This application can be of particular value with certain topics from number theory involving computations that are unreasonable using pencil and paper. We recently had occasion to discuss with students two ideas from number theory that seemed well suited to investigation with a computer. The first concerned a method for predicting the number of zeros at the end of N!. The second involved an algorithm that could be used to generate palindromic integers. Both topics came to involve computations with very large integers—so large that our microcomputers were not immediately capable of supplying a sufficient number of significant digits to allow a full exploration of the topics. Consequently, we found ourselves with an opportunity to use some mathematical skills to overcome an inherent limitation of the computers.

Forecasting software for microcomputers

Microcomputers have the potential for making forecasting somewhat easier, at least as far as the number crunching and presentation is concerned. A number of programs are now available which are designed specifically for forecasting. These are in addition to many general purpose statistical analysis packages which may also offer some forecasting techniques. This study summarizes the features of 8 forecasting-specific programs. These programs range from automatic Box-Jenkins modeling packages to smorgasbord packages offering a multitude of forecasting methods. This study summarizes characteristics of these programs on the basis of their forecasting techniques, customer support, database features, software features, graphics and other functional features. A number of criteria are identified and then the packages are compared along those dimensions.

Series for student's non-central t under exponential sampling with comments due to H. P. Mulholland

The moments of student's non-central t are only known in exact form for samples of n =2, 3, and 4, under exponential sampling. The exact distribution for n > 5 is unknown. Mulholland produced an exact recursive formula for the density of . and asserted that it consisted of n−1 splines on (l,n). A computer oriented extended series (COETS) is taken out to terms in n−24 and appears to be strongly divergent. Several different approximation processes are used to study error analysis, including Levin's t-algorithm and simulations. Satisfactory assessments are indicated for all sample sizes exceeding about 25. The study involves a statistical problem, uses summation techniques in numerical methods and is for the most part highly computer oriented; considerable number crunching is unavoidable.

More than mainframes: Power utilities are finding that the mix-and-match trend that is evident in computer systems is for them a matter of survival

Attention is called to the mix-and-match trend that is taking hold in computer systems design. Rather than relying on one mainframe or minicomputer to do all their computing tasks, more and more industries are blending microcomputers, minicomputers, and mainframes to take advantage of the best features of each. The new demands that are being placed on the energy-management systems (EMSs) of utilities are discussed. It is pointed out that these functions and others require two kinds of computing power: massive number crunching and real-time processing of data from many sources. The integrated systems emerging today, with their combination of computers, provide the required power and flexibility that no single computer can meet. The various factors that must be considered in arriving at the optimum architecture are discussed.

NSF's Supercomputing Centers: Number Crunching for Research

NSF's Supercomputing Centers: Number Crunching for Research

A letter from the President

Businesses today require more and better planning and more and better strategies than ever before. Yet, as some of us are painfully aware, planning departments, at least in many major organizations, are getting smaller and smaller. Some of this cut in department size can be attributed to the sophisticated new software that has replaced manual number crunching and forecasting. However, much of the cutback is related to management's increasing demand that line managers take over part of the planners' job. Nowadays line managers are expected to think and act strategically and fully understand how their operations “fit” the company's global plan. This requires the development of strategic management skills and thought processes normally associated with planners, planning departments, and staff functions.

Opinion in, opinion out

In the computer world the adage, “Garbage in, garbage out,” reminds us that no amount of number crunching can compensate for poor data or weak theory. Similarly, the phrase, “Opinion in, opinion out,” calls attention to the role of an underlying world view of the decision maker, no matter how complex the decision procedure may be.