On the History of Gunter's Scale and the Slide Rule During the Seventeenth Century

Name: On the History of Gunter's Scale and the Slide Rule During the Seventeenth Century
Author: Florian Cajori

By Florian Cajori

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History - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750)Mathematics

About This Book

The essay surveys seventeenth-century developments in logarithmic calculating instruments, cataloguing alterations to Gunter’s scale by several instrument-makers and describing diverse slide-rule formats. It analyzes Richard Delamain’s Grammelogia, detailing his ring, cylinder and enlarged circular designs, methods of graduation, and the early use of a movable index. The piece recounts the priority dispute between Delamain and William Oughtred over circular and rectilinear slide rules, discusses Oughtred’s later gauging-line, and outlines other contemporary slide-rule variants and their practical proposals.

About the Author

Florian Cajori

Florian Cajori was a mathematician and historian of mathematics known for his scholarly contributions to the understanding of mathematical instruments and education in the early modern period. His notable works include "On the History of Gunter's Scale and the Slide Rule During the Seventeenth Century," which explores the development and significance of these mathematical tools, and "William Oughtred: A Great Seventeenth-Century Teacher of Mathematics," a study of the influential mathematician and educator. Cajori's research provides valuable insights into the evolution of mathematical thought and practice during a pivotal era in the history of mathematics.