Computers can be used to simulate real-world situations using simulation software. Simulation software can be integrated into a computer-aided design package. In order to do this a model is designed on a computer. In a statistical simulation random numbers generators are used to produce data from given distributions. Alternatively, numerical methods can be used to develop direct models of the real-world situation.
Physical/engineering problems such as finding the properies of a structure can be modelled on computer using the finite element method or the boundary element method .