Numerical methods are techniques by which mathematical problems are

formulated so that they can be solved with arithmetic operations. While numerical
methods can be divided into many types, all of them have one thing in common: a
large quantity of long arithmetic calculations.

Apart from numerical methods, the other two methods of problem solving
are analytical methods and graphical methods. The latter isn't useful since it isn't
precise due to the drawing of graphs using hands. This also makes the process
tedious. Another limitation is its viability for problems involving three or lesser
dimensions. Usage of analytical methods can give one insight into the behavior
and characteristics of a particular system. Unfortunately, they can only be used for
systems which can be approximated through use of linear models. Since practical
problems consist of complex and nonlinear processes, the use of analytical
methods isn't adequate.

Historically, analytical and graphical methods were preferred due to the time
consuming nature of numerical methods highlighted above. Multiple arithmetic
operations consumed a lot of time since the only tools in hand were slide rules,
calculators and paper and pencil. The number of operations also increased the
chance of a wrong outcome due to a human blunder.

The introduction and explosive spread of affordable computers in the

modern era has changed the perception about numerical methods and altered the
ways of problem solving. A computer is able to perform millions of calculations in
a second. Thus the speed bottleneck associated with numerical methods has been
removed.

Numerical methods are quite significant in the field of engineering since

they allow us to learn in-depth knowledge about the various systems in the
multiple streams of engineering. This is possible since it prioritizes the right
stages of problem solving. There are three stages of problem solving in
engineering practice:
Formulation
Solution
Interpretation
While analytical methods focus on the solution stage ( in order to come up with a
simplified model to output an answer), the techniques applied in numerical
methods focus on the formulation and interpretation stages. The formulation
stage consists of finding the best relationship between the dimensions of the
problem and the fundamental laws of nature. Since computing power has
transformed the solution stage into a time efficient stage, importance is placed on
formulation stage in order to come up with the best possible answer. Numerical
methods also open up more possibilities in the interpretation stage. Due to ease
in calculations, the mathematical model setup in the formulation stage can be
easily tweaked repeatedly in order to understand more about the characteristics
of the system in question. Types of such tweaks:
Larger Systems:
More dimensions/components added into the mathematical model. This makes
the system more realistic.

Non ideal systems:

Usually systems are solved for ideal conditions. The model can be reformulated to
include nonidealised realities present in a practical problem.

Sensitivity Analysis:
Implementation of computational numerical methods allows one to test the
system for different inputs in order to determine the sensitivity of the system.

Tasks which tend to be quite common to be solved using numerical methods are:
Finding roots
Solving linear equations
Numerical Interpolation
Calculus

Numerical methods are used in nearly every stream of engineering:

Kinematics
Temperature distribution
Circuitry