berekening

Berekening is the process of determining a numerical result from known data using arithmetic rules or more general algorithms. In everyday language it encompasses mental math as well as formal computations in science, engineering, finance, and statistics. The Dutch noun derives from the infinitive berekenen, from rekenen (to count, compute) with the prefix be-, and the -ing suffix forming an abstract noun.

Historically, calculation progressed from hand tallying and the use of abaci to mechanical calculators and, in the 20th century, electronic calculators and digital computers. Today, calculation ranges from simple arithmetic performed in the head or on paper, to automated, high-precision numerical methods implemented in software.

Calculations can be exact, as in integer arithmetic, or approximate, using floating-point numbers, rounding, and truncation. People use different methods: mental calculation, manual calculation with paper and pen, systematic algorithms, and numerical methods such as solving equations, interpolation, or optimization. In computing, algorithms determine the steps to obtain a result; concerns include complexity, efficiency, and error propagation.

Applications span many domains: budgeting and accounting; engineering analyses; scientific simulations; data analysis; and decision making. The reliability of a calculation depends on data quality, method choice, and rounding or measurement uncertainties. Clear documentation of assumptions and units is standard practice in professional work.