# FORMAC

> computer algebra system based on FORTRAN

**Wikidata**: [Q5426889](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5426889)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FORMAC)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/formac

## Summary
FORMAC is a computer algebra system developed in 1964 by American computer scientist Jean E. Sammet. It is distinguished by being based on the FORTRAN programming language, allowing for symbolic manipulation and mathematical operations.

## Key Facts
- FORMAC is a computer algebra system.
- It was developed in 1964.
- FORMAC was developed by Jean E. Sammet.
- It is based on the FORTRAN programming language.
- Jean E. Sammet was an American computer scientist and mathematician, born in 1928 and passed away in 2017.
- FORTRAN is a general-purpose programming language, first conceived in 1957.
- FORMAC has Wikipedia articles available in 5 languages.
- It is considered an instance of a programming language.

## FAQs
### Q: What is FORMAC?
A: FORMAC is a computer algebra system designed for symbolic manipulation and mathematical operations. It was developed in 1964 and is notable for being built upon the FORTRAN programming language.

### Q: Who developed FORMAC?
A: FORMAC was developed by Jean E. Sammet, an American computer scientist and mathematician. She is recognized for her significant contributions to the field of programming languages.

### Q: When was FORMAC created?
A: FORMAC was developed and first introduced in 1964.

### Q: What programming language is FORMAC based on?
A: FORMAC is based on FORTRAN, a general-purpose programming language that was first conceived in 1957.

## Why It Matters
FORMAC holds significance as an early and influential computer algebra system, representing a crucial step in the automation of symbolic mathematics. Its development in 1964, based on the widely adopted FORTRAN programming language, demonstrated the potential for computers to perform complex algebraic manipulations beyond mere numerical calculations. This capability was vital for scientific and engineering fields, enabling researchers to tackle problems that were previously too labor-intensive or error-prone to solve manually. The creation of FORMAC by Jean E. Sammet, a pioneering computer scientist, further underscores its importance in the history of computing, highlighting early innovations in software development that laid the groundwork for modern symbolic computation tools. It contributed to the evolution of programming languages and systems designed for specialized mathematical tasks, expanding the utility of computers in academic and industrial research.

## Notable For
- Being an early computer algebra system designed for symbolic manipulation.
- Its foundation on the FORTRAN programming language, a widely used language at the time.
- Being developed by Jean E. Sammet, a prominent American computer scientist and mathematician.

## Body

### Overview
FORMAC is defined as a computer algebra system. Its primary function is to perform symbolic manipulation and mathematical operations. It is categorized as an instance of a programming language.

### Development
FORMAC was developed in 1964. The system was created by Jean E. Sammet, an American computer scientist and mathematician. Jean E. Sammet was born on March 23, 1928, and passed away in 2017. Her occupations included computer scientist and mathematician, and she held United States citizenship.

### Technical Foundation
FORMAC is based on the FORTRAN programming language. FORTRAN is a general-purpose programming language that was first conceived in 1957. This foundation allowed FORMAC to leverage FORTRAN's capabilities for its symbolic computation tasks.

### Related Entities
- **Programming Language**: FORMAC is an instance of a programming language, which is a language for communicating instructions to a machine.
- **FORTRAN**: The system is based on FORTRAN, a general-purpose programming language.
- **Jean E. Sammet**: The developer of FORMAC.

## References

1. Quora