Mathematica Inc. was a multi-faceted American software company and consulting group founded by Princeton University professors in 1958 and established as an independent corporation in 1968. The company had three primary divisions: Mathematica Policy Research, which did consulting work, mostly "to develop mathematical models for marketing decision making"; Mathematica Products Group, best known for developing the RAMIS programming language; and MathTech, the company's technical and economic consulting group. The company was also a leading developer of state lottery systems.[1]
In early 1982, the company's stock was split 3-for-2.[2] Mathematica Products Group was soon spun off and purchased by Martin Marietta Corporation, in May 1983.[3] The division was then renamed Mathematica & Oxford Software. Marietta sold Mathematica & Oxford Software to On-Line Software International in 1986;[4] On-Line was in turn sold to Computer Associates, in 1991.[5][6] Mathematica Policy Research and MathTech were also spun off, and in 1986 both independently became employee-owned companies. Mathematica Policy Research was eventually renamed to Mathematica Inc. and it is the only former unit still carrying the full Mathematica name.
Early day participants
edit- Oskar Morgenstern, economist and one of the company's founders in 1958 (Chairman, 1968)
- Tibor Fabian, Mathematica's Hungarian-born president (1980s)
- William Baumol and William Bowen, economists and early day participants
Divisions
edit- Mathematica Policy Research? – the only former unit still carrying the Mathematica name.
- Mathematica Products Group – best known for developing RAMIS
- MathTech, the company's technical and economic consulting group – "research projects and computer systems other than Ramis."[1]
A quarter of a century after Mathematica's founding, it "was largely owned by a group of professors in Mathematics and Economics at Princeton University... as this group aged, they opted to cash out by selling." The result was a 3-way split: two units became employee-owned companies and another was sold several times.
Mathematica Products Group
editIn 1982, Mathematica Products Group's RAMIS was described as "nonprocedural" and "bordering on artificial intelligence."[7] This unit of Mathematica was purchased by Martin Marietta Corporation in 1983[8] and renamed to Mathematica & Oxford Software.[4] Marietta sold Mathematica & Oxford Software in 1986 to On-Line Software International, who merged the subsidiary into their own main operations;[4] On-Line was in turn sold to Computer Associates, in 1991.[5][6]
The RAMIS product sold well, initially on mainframes,[9] subsequently on PCs.
Mathematica Policy Research
editThe Mathematica Policy Research (MPR) unit's strength was in "social experiments and surveys."[1] In 1983 MPR reported "a major survey assignment for the American Medical Association."
In 1986, it became a separate, employee-owned company.
MathTech
editLike MPR, in 1986 MathTech became an employee-owned company. Known today as Mathtech, Inc.,[10] it was described by The New York Times as "a Washington-area educational consulting firm [11]
References
edit- ^ a b c Karen W. Arenson (February 22, 1983). "MATHEMATICA'S SHIFT INTO SOFTWARE FIELD". The New York Times.
- ^ Staff writer (April 5, 1982). "Nickels & Dimes". Computerworld. XVI (14): 78 – via Google Books.
- ^ Staff writer (May 17, 1983). "Marietta to Acquire Mathematica Inc". The New York Times: D4. ProQuest?424635964.
- ^ a b c Staff writer (October 31, 1986). "On-Line Buys Software Firm". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company: 1. ProQuest?397974651.
- ^ a b "Features". Computerworld.
- ^ a b "Update: Wang leaves CA, hands off to Kumar". November 18, 2002.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Mathematica, Inc". February 24, 1982.
- ^ "RAMIS II, PC Unison". Computerworld. September 9, 1985. p.?6.
- ^ including 40 AT&T licenses, and other known-name companies
- ^ "Mathtech Inc. was originally formed as the Strategy and Consulting arm of Princeton-based professional services firm Mathematica, Inc." "History".
- ^ James Barron (November 8, 1987). "Learning The Facts of Life". The New York Times.