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    4. why is the computer called difference engine
    why is the computer called difference engine

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    0  Views: 596 Answers: 2 Posted: 12 years ago
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      A difference engine is an automatic mechanical calculator designed to tabulate polynomial functions. The name derives from the method of divided differences, a way to interpolate or tabulate functions by using a small set of polynomial coefficients. Both logarithmic and trigonometric functions, functions commonly used by both navigators and scientists, can be approximated by polynomials, so a difference engine can compute many useful sets of numbers.
      The historical difficulty in producing error free tables by teams of mathematicians and human "computers" spurred Charles Babbage's desire to build a mechanism to automate the process.


      Read more >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Difference_engine

      12 years ago. Rating: 2
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        Info here


        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Difference_engine

        12 years ago. Rating: 1
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