I'd argue that they were also invented specifically to do specific mathematical calculations. Many predecessors of the modern computer were designed to do math.

I'd argue that they were also invented specifically to do specific mathematical calculations. Many predecessors of the modern computer were designed to do math. Some examples: The ENIAC was invented to do mathematical calculations for the army. Blaise Pascal invented a mechanical calculator to do arithmetic in 1642. Leibniz improved on his design and made his own version in 1673. However, not many of either version were made, as it was still cheaper to just do the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division yourself. Herman Hollerith invented a punch card tabulating machine and patented it in 1884. It was used to process the 1890 US Census. It could increment counters to do addition and multiplication, but its main purpose was to assist with processing large amounts of data using punch cards, the way SQL databases are used today. In 1930, Vannevar Bush invented a machine called the Differential Analyzer, which was an analogue computer that could solve differential equations by integration. You could store functions in it by adjusting gears. The purpose was to be able to automatically calculate things like the position of a projectile moving through the air after n seconds without having to calculate it by hand. Most of this I got from the book ENIAC, The Triumphs and Tragedies of the World's First Computer, which touches on all these predecessors to the computer.