FORMAC (FORmula MAnipulation Compiler) was the first widely used computer language for symbolic mathematics. Created by Jean Sammet at IBM, it allowed computers to manipulate mathematical formulas, not just numbers.
Significance
Before FORMAC, computers primarily processed numerical data. FORMAC enabled manipulation of algebraic expressions—adding, multiplying, differentiating, and simplifying formulas symbolically.
Key Capabilities
FORMAC could:
- Differentiate and integrate symbolically
- Simplify algebraic expressions
- Substitute and expand formulas
- Handle polynomial arithmetic
Impact
FORMAC pioneered computer algebra:
- First widely used symbolic math system
- Demonstrated computers could do “real” mathematics
- Influenced Macsyma, Mathematica, and modern CAS systems
Historical Context
FORMAC was built on FORTRAN, extending it with symbolic capabilities. Its success showed that programming languages could be specialized for particular domains—a concept now taken for granted.