Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Computation has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
the procedure of calculating; determining something by mathematical or logical methods
"The computer's computation yielded a precise result after processing millions of data points through complex algorithms."
problem solving that involves numbers or quantities
"The student struggled with the computation required to calculate the total cost of all items on her grocery list."
The act or process of computing; calculation; reckoning.
"The computer performed a complex computation to determine the optimal flight path for the aircraft."
In plain English: Computation is the process of using math to solve problems, often done by computers step-by-step.
"The computer finished its computation in just a few seconds."
Usage: Use this term to describe complex mathematical calculations, such as those performed by computers, rather than simple arithmetic like adding two numbers. It refers specifically to the systematic process of deriving a result through computation.
The word "computation" comes from the Old French term computacion, which was borrowed into English in the late Middle Ages to mean a calculation or reckoning. It ultimately traces back to the Latin verb computare, meaning "to sum up," and entered our language as an abstract noun derived directly from that root.