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Basic Methods of Computation
There are four basic methods of computation in mathematics: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Addition is the process whereby you add two or more numbers together, while subtraction is the process of removing or taking away one number from another. Multiplication, related to addition, is the process of adding numbers multiple times, while division -- the opposite of multiplication -- is the process of subtracting or distributing a number a defined number of times.
Advanced Methods of Computation
Advanced methods of computation in mathematics still use the four basic methods, but in combination and with increasing complexity. Algebra -- the study of mathematical relations and operations -- uses letters and other representations to solve mathematical problems. Calculus -- another branch of math that computes and interprets the physical properties of objects -- uses lines, curves and functions.
Computation Method in Computer Science
Computer science is the study of mathematical theories involved in processing information and applying it to produce a process that a computer can understand. The basic computation method in computer science is the algorithm -- the process of using a defined set of computations to produce a specific outcome or instruction. An algorithm uses the simplest and most complicated mathematical methods, depending on the desired outcome.
One of the simplest algorithm methods in computer science involves basic questions answerable by yes or no. For example, if a website asks for a customer's email address, a basic algorithm can ask, "Did the user enter the '@' symbol? If yes, proceed to next page, if no, send text reminder to include full email address."
Custom Methods
Some researchers create their own method of computation in order to compute a desired result. For example, in statistical research, researchers create their own algebraic expressions and algorithms to find out the relation between two components of their study. This practice is not as difficult as it may seem, because the researcher has control over the variables required to process a desired computation method.
For example, if a researcher wants to know the percentage of 18-year-old students who have jobs, the researcher will just use the basic percentile calculation by dividing the number of students who work by the number of 18-year-old students who participated, then multiplying the result to 100.