Programs called computer algebra systems strive to handle these tasks. And if you want to solve the biggest equations in the world, for 33 years one program has stood out: FORM.

Strachey, a schoolmaster and pioneering computer scientist, initially wrote the program for Alan Turing's Pilot ACE, an early British computer.

Computer programming involves knowing how to write code—a handy skill for a variety of technology jobs. In everything from creating websites to developing software programs, strong computer ...