"In the Descriptio the author published only so much of the reasoning on which his calculations rested as was necessary to enable the mathematical world to appreciate the nature and use of the tables which are to be found there. Indeed, we find Napier expressly stating in it that he does not propose to publish to the world the manner in which the tables were calculated until he finds that they have justified their existence by their acknowledged usefulness. The Descriptio therefore bears evidence of being written all at one time, to serve as an introduction and guide to the tables which were printed with it."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
InventorsTheologians from ScotlandPhysicists from ScotlandMathematicians from ScotlandAstronomers from Scotland
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Inaugural Address by Lord Moulton: The Invention of Logarithms its Genesis and Growth
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Napier
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
John Napier
97 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by John Napier →
Related Quotes
"Napier, in 1614, ...employed the idea of the fluxion of a quantity to picture by means of lines the relation between …"
"Let our judgment not be too harsh. The period under consideration is too near the Middle Ages to admit of complete em…"
"The method by which the logarithms were calculated was explained in the Constructio, a posthumous work issued in 1619…"
"These properties of the indices of numbers were taken notice of by Stifelius, and even by Archimedes in his work on t…"
"Napier, Lord of Merchiston, hath set my head and hands at work with his new and admirable Logarithms. I hope to see h…"
"Many computing devices have been used since the invention of the abacus. These include , sector compasses, slide rule…"
"From every line of his descent talent seems to have flowed in upon John Napier."
"The invention of logarithms, without which many of the numerical calculations which have constantly to be made would …"
"The rapid recognition throughout Europe of the advantages of using logarithms in practical calculations was mainly du…"
"It is no exaggeration to say that the invention of logarithms "by shortening the labours doubled the life of the astr…"