Definition:Babbage's Difference Engine
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Definition
Babbage's difference engine was an automatic mechanical calculator designed to tabulate polynomial functions.
Also known as
Babbage's difference engine is also seen referred to as Babbage's engine.
However, this can be taken to mean either this or Babbage's analytical engine, which is a different machine.
Some sources conflate the two machines.
Also see
Source of Name
This entry was named for Charles Babbage.
Historical Note
Because of many factors, personal and financial among others, Charles Babbage was unable to develop his machine as he originally intended.
Sources
- 1989: Ephraim J. Borowski and Jonathan M. Borwein: Dictionary of Mathematics ... (previous) ... (next): Babbage's engine
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Babbage, Charles (1792-1871)
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Babbage, Charles (1792-1871)