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History of logarithms

History of logarithms

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The history of logarithms is the story of a correspondence between multiplication on the positive real numbers and addition on real number line that was formalized in seventeenth century Europe and was widely used to simplify calculation until the advent of the digital computer. The Napierian logarithms were published first in 1614. E. W. Hobson called it "one of the very greatest scientific disco

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"Although the has largely given way to the pocket calculator... the pedagogical value of making ones own [slide or other] rules of various kinds remains. Napiers rods are easily made by schoolchildren and the historical route by which the modern slide rule evolved can be followed through with advantage. If has been taught at some stage, the principles of Napiers rods will already be understood. Many different kinds of graduated rule can be experimented with, including those of arithmetic scales (to be used for addition and subtraction) and those with geometric scales (for multiplication and division). It is not necessary to mention the word logarithm; it is sufficient to introduce arithmetic and and to utilize the rules themselves in order to introduce the principles of logarithms."
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History of logarithms
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"As the Indian figures are on infinite service in all branches of mixed Mathematics, and particularly in Astronomy... the next considerable improvement in this science was by the introduction of DECIMAL ARITHMETIC. This, according to Dr. Wallis, in his Preface to his Algebra was first done by , about the year 1450. But the greatest improvement of all was made by the introduction ofLOGARITHMS.For, by their means, numbers almost infinite, and such as are otherwise impracticable, are managed with ease and expedition. They are the incontestable invention of the Lord Neper, a Scotchman, about the year 1614."
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History of logarithms

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