On the Mathematical Powers of the Calculating Engine

Abstract

The object of the present volume is to show the degree of assistance which mathematical science is capable of receiving from mechanism. I may possibly in a separate work describe minutely the mechanism I have contrived for that purpose. For the complete understanding of the following pages it will be unnecessary to present to the reader more than a very general outline of the structure of the engine and if he feel indisposed to examine even that, he may pass it over and taking certain mechanical data for granted at once proceed to the mathematical investigation in which he will find that they are all proved to depend on those mechanical data.