Computer science is the study of the use of computers to process information. The form of this information may vary widely, from the business person's records or the scientist's experimental results to the linguist's texts. One of the fundamental concepts in computer science is the algorithm -- a list of instructions that specify the steps required to solve a problem. Computer science is concerned with producing correct, efficient, and maintainable algorithms for a wide variety of applications. Closely related is the development of tools to foster these goals: programming languages for expressing algorithms; operating systems to manage the resources of a computer; and various mathematical and statistical techniques to study the correctness and efficiency of algorithms.

Theoretical computer science is also concerned with the inherent difficulty of problems that can make them intractable by computers. Numerical analysis, data management systems, computer graphics, and artificial intelligence are concerned with the applications of computers to specific problem areas.

Mathematics - "was created by the inherent need to describe and analyse elements of the physical world as accurately as possible"

Our Mathematics began in the ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. The Babylonians already knew much of the mathematics taught traditionally in our schools. Their algebra and geometry was phrased in terms of crops and fields and money. Since the Renaissance, much of mathematics has come from problems in physics and astronomy; for example, calculus arose from problems in mechanics. In turn mathematics has provided the theoretical framework and tools in the Physical Sciences. In the 19th century some parts of mathematics appeared to develop away from their origins in the physical world. To the great surprise of many scientists and mathematicians, some of this "pure" mathematics has turned out to be essential in many aspects of 20th century science. Differential geometry provides the language for general relativity and cosmology and Hilbert space theory and group representations are the tools for quantum mechanics. Similarly graph theory, combinatorics and number theory play a major role in computer science.

Statistics

Probability and statistics have developed over a period of several hundred years as attempts to quantify uncertainty. With its origins in modeling games of chance, probability theory has become a sophisticated mathematical discipline with applications in such fields as demography, genetics and physics.

Statistics is concerned with the proper collection and analysis of data, both to reduce uncertainty and to provide for its assessment via probability. Applications range from pre-election polling to the design and analysis of experiments to determine the relative efficacies of different vaccines.