The mathematical coprocessor was coupled with the CPU microprocessor to perform fast mathematical functions such as additions, subtractions, multiplications, divisions, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric and floating point calculations.

It was used by Intel, Cyrix, ITT, Motorola, Apple and most of the integrated circuit manufacturers of the time.

Born in 1980 produced by Intel (8087), the generation of mathematical coprocessors disappears in the 90s, integrated into CPUs.