The history of calculators and the variety available
Mathematics is a subject that most people dread right from their childhood. Therefore, it is not surprising to see people reaching out for their calculators when they have to calculate the more difficult figures. The calculator is a simple device that has been in use for decades. The abacus was considered to be the first calculating machine used by man, right from the time it was invented till date, the calculator has improved in leaps and bounds. Today, there are a plethora of options, including scientific calculators for people to choose from. Before you buy a calculator, it is recommended that you learn about the various options available so you can make the right choice.
The history of the calculators can be traced back to the ancient civilisations that used beads and stones to keep track of numbers. Called the abacus, this was used prominently till the invention of the first calculator in 1623 by Wilhelm Schikard. This calculator was primarily designed for the calculation of astronomical tables, the first calculator that could actually compute simple arithmetic problems was the Pascaline invented in 1645 by Blaise Pascal. The main reason he invented this machine was to reduce his workload by halving the time needed to do manual calculations. However, this machine was very expensive and very limited in terms of functionality. The commercial calculating devices such as the scientific calculators came into existence only from the 19th century.
Throughout the 19th century, the calculators in use could only compute simple arithmetic problems, many scientific equations and compound numbers could not be calculated using these machines. However, the transition of technology from vacuum pipes to transistors in the 20th century laid the foundation of the invention of various types of calculating machines such as the financial calculator, scientific calculators and many more.
The financial calculators are devices that are used extensively by banking professionals. These devices are programmed to make it easy for bankers to compute the interest rate, the amortisation schedule of the loan, returns on bonds and investments and many more. The graphical calculator is a device that is used to calculate problems in the field of engineering, physics, mathematics and chemistry. The scientific calculators are highly advanced calculating devices that can perform a plethora of functions which are useful in the field of research, astrophysics and many more.
With the passage of time and the advancements in the field of science and technology, calculators have seen further developments. For example, the scientific calculators that are being designed today are being programmed to perform the functions of the graphical and financial calculator as well in order to eliminate redundancy. The calculating machines available now can do more than just calculating compound equations. The ones that are currently being manufactured offer connectivity to the internet to make it easy for you to upload and download various calculations. They are also being provided with a USB port that facilitates transfer of data from one device to the calculator and vice versa.
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