A History of Calculation
Mathematics and calculation were subjects explored by ancient
civilisations, but progress in calculation tools really took off in
the 17th century illustrated here with a modern set of Napier's
rods, which reduced the need for multiplication. Illustrating how
calculation technology progressed in the 20th century is the Curta
mechanical pocket calculator, first made in 1947, and the 1974
HP-35 pocket electronic calculator, a great example of a scientific
tool as it did so much more than adding and subtracting! These
tools and their functions were to be replaced by our 21st century
computers and phones.
Click on the images below to see a larger version and find out
more about each object.
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