Napier and the Invention of Logarithms |
Common terms and phrases
16th century 20 NER WIDEKER Adam Bothwell Bishop of Orkney BORROWER FROM OVERDUE Bürgi's Campbell Canon Mirificus CHARGED AN OVERDUE Church daughter dedication Descriptio Edinburgh Elizabeth Mowbray estates estimates Napier's EXEMPT THE BORROWER father Gartness genius Gresham College Henry Briggs honour invention of logarithms inventor James Stirling Janet Bothwell Jhone John Marr John Napier Kepler Lennox and Menteith loga logarithms of numbers Lord Napier Mark Napier marriage mathematical mathematician Memoirs Merchiston family multiples Napier and Briggs Napier died Napier family Napier of Merchiston Napier's Bones Napier's Canon Napier's conception Napier's day Napier's invention Nepar Neper Newton NON-RECEIPT OF OVERDUE number which measures numbering rods OVERDUE FEE OVERDUE NOTICES published Rabdologia reference to Napier Robert Napier Salvator's SANCEL BOOK DUE Scotland Simson's Sir Archibald Napier Sir James Chisholm studies system of logarithms theological Thomas Craig top square traditions trigonometry velocity whole sine WIDEKER NOEB WIDENEA WIDENER MAR zero
Popular passages
Page 23 - Merchiston, son of the famous inventor of the logarithms, the person to whom the title of a " great man " is more justly due, than to any other whom his country ever produced.
Page 16 - Briggs, purposely to be there when these two so learned persons should meet. Mr. Briggs appoints a certain day when to meet at Edinburgh ; but failing thereof, the lord Napier was doubtful he would not come. It happened one day as John Marr and the lord Napier were speaking of Mr. Briggs ; ' Ah, John,' said Marchiston, ' Mr. Briggs will not now come.
Page 14 - Seeing there is nothing (right well-beloved students of the Mathematics) that is so troublesome to mathematical practice; nor that doth more molest and hinder calculators, than the multiplications, divisions, square and cubical extractions of great numbers, which besides the tedious expense of time are for the most part subject to many slippery errors, I began therefore to consider in my mind by what certain and ready art I might remove those hindrances.
Page 16 - Marchiston, made public his logarithms, Mr. Briggs, then reader of- the astronomy lectures at Gresham college in London, was so surprised with admiration of them, that he could have no quietness in himself until he had seen that noble person...
Page 17 - My lord, I have undertaken this long journey purposely to see your person, and to know by what engine of wit or ingenuity you came first to think of this most excellent help into astronomy, viz. the logarithms ; but, my lord, being by you found out, I wonder nobody else found it out before, when now known it is so easy.
Page 16 - Napier lord of Markinston, hath set my head and hands at work with his new and admirable logarithms. I hope to see him this summer, if it please God ; for I never saw a book which pleased me better, and made me more wonder.
Page 14 - ... as much as they can do, only by addition and subtraction, division by two or division by three ; which secret invention, being (as all other good things are) so much the better as it shall be the more common ; I...
Page 12 - and the inventions consist of (1) a mirror for burning the enemies' ships at any distance, (2) a piece of artillery destroying everything round an arc of a circle, and (3) a round metal chariot, so constructed that its occupants could move it rapidly and easily, while firing out through small holes in it.
Page 22 - I as the digits, written backwards, of 6x2085. The use of the slips for the purpose of multiplication is now evident , thus, to multiply 2085 by 736 we take out in this manner the multiples corresponding to 6, 3, 7 and set down the digits as they are obtained, from right to left, shifting them back one place and adding up the columns as in ordinary multiplication, viz., the figures as written down are...