● The meaning of calculation
The so-called calculation is the process of obtaining certain new results from the initial object (also called data) through a series of operations (limited times) according to certain established rules.
The established rules here are actually algorithms. In other words, calculation is a process of obtaining some new results from the initial object through a series of operations according to a given algorithm.
It is worth pointing out that the initial objects here are not necessarily numbers, but letters, functions, matrices and so on. It should be noted that the calculation is carried out in a strict sense, that is, only the corresponding unique result can be obtained for each initial data. In other words, for the same calculation problem, different people calculate or use machines to calculate, and the calculation results are the same.
● Develop computing tools.
What is a computing tool? The so-called calculation tool is an instrument used for calculation or an object that assists calculation. For example, the abacus, calculator and computer we use now are all calculation tools. Primitive computing tools, such as corn kernels and stones, which have never been processed, have gone through the following five stages since the emergence of modern high-tech electronic computers.
(1) ancient computing tools
At first, people used fingers, stones and sticks as counting and calculating tools. The ancients in China made outstanding contributions to the development of computing technology and computing tools. China people have long used calculation methods and systematically used tools for calculation. Later, China people invented abacus calculation on the basis of calculating funds, which improved the calculation efficiency. The invention of abacus is also a great contribution to computing technology. Even today, when electronic computers are quite popular, abacus still has practical value and practical significance.
In ancient times, other nations also invented various forms of calculation tools, such as Roman abacus, carved wood chips in Britain and so on.
Although various ancient calculation tools have different forms, the principle is the same: a specific object is used to represent numbers, and the calculation is carried out through the mechanical operation of the object.
(2) Mechanical calculation tools
With the emergence of large-scale industrial production, mechanical computers were born. The earliest designer was a German named Cical, who was a professor of oriental languages at the University of Tubingen and had contact with the astronomer Kepler. 1957, Hamel of the museum consulted Kepler's archives and found two letters written by Sicard to Kepler. The letter describes the computer he invented that can automatically calculate addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, and draws a schematic diagram, suggesting that Kepler use it for astronomical calculations. The original work has been lost and may not have been really produced.
The inventor of the first computer that can really calculate addition and subtraction was Pascal, a French mathematician. His machine was completed on 1642. This computer can do addition and subtraction within 8. At present, there are several mechanical computers similar to Pascal machines hidden in the Forbidden City in Beijing. Whether they are imitations of the latter is unknown.
Pascal machine can only calculate addition, subtraction, multiplication and division as repeated addition and subtraction. 167 1 year, the German mathematician Leibniz (1646- 17 16) designed and manufactured a mechanical computer that can not only add, subtract, but also multiply and divide. It is said that Leibniz yearns for China very much. In order to establish some connection with China, he copied a computer he invented and gave it to Emperor Kangxi. But this machine has never been found in the Forbidden City, and it has not been recorded in China literature. Whether it has been delivered remains to be seen. On the basis of Leibniz machine, after years of development and improvement, various forms of manual computers have appeared, which are popular all over the world. /kloc-at the beginning of the 0/9th century, France began mass production of computers. At the same time that the hand-cranked computer came into being, people also invented another calculation tool-slide rule. 1620, British mathematician Gunter (158 1- 1626) used logarithmic scale for multiplication and division for the first time. 1632, British Oughtred (1575- 1660) invented the slide rule, and later made a circular slide rule.