HIS 2129 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Computus, Ibm 7090, Blaise Pascal
30 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Computus: calculation done by european monks of the date for easter. Many computations were done for calendrical or astronomical purposes. Up to the 18th century, problems arose around astronomy, concerning with dating, time- keeping, and navigation. These problems would overwhelm a single individual or take a group of people a long period of time to solve them. By the end of the 18th century, mathematicians focused on breaking each problem down into simpler steps. But, still, this would take a very long time. Blaise pascal (french): machine that could add and subtract. Leibniz also pioneered modern notation for calculus and series and greatly reduced many mathematical operations. Inventors continues to improve simple calculating machines throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. 1855: charles x. thomas built an arithmometer that could multiply 2 15-digit numbers. Machine would drop pins through holes in punched cards, touching individual cups of mercury to complete electrical circuits that spun the counting dials.
