Who Invented Calculator?

A calculator is a gadget that performs arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, division and multiplication on numbers. And, more advanced mathematical and sophisticated calculators can deal with Exponential operations, square roots, logarithms, mathematical and Trigonometric functions and hyperbolic functions. Internally some calculators performs all the operations and functions by repeated addition and subtraction process. It performs millions of calculations in fraction of a Minute.

Invention of Calculator

Father of Calculator: Blaise Pascal

A French Mathematician and Physicist, Blaise Pascal invented mechanical calculators in 1642. It was called Pascaline also called Arithmetic Machine. The Pascal calculator is designed between 1642 to 1644. It does addition and subtraction of two numbers and Multiplication and division by repeated additions and subtractions. Later in the 17th Century Leibniz developed a calculator with more advanced Calculations. But the most successful Calculator is the Arithmometer in 1820 which is invented by Charles Xavier Thomas de Colmar of France based on Leibniz’s technology,  with more advanced features. It was launched in 1851 and this is the only type of Mechanical calculator used up to world war 1. It was extremely popular and sold for 90 Years.

Evolution of Calculators

• Calculation begins around 2000 BC. In Ancient times they used Abacus for faster calculations. It was firstly used by Egyptians around 2000 BC. It has been used for very long years. But Abacus is not a Device, It is just a tool that is used for calculation by counting the round-shaped beads which are slide on sticks.
• Later, In 1623 a German Biographer William Schickard invented a Calculator which performs the four operations like addition, Multiplication ,Subtraction and Division. It is the next version of Abacus. It is called as Schickard Calculator.
• Later in 1642, A French mathematician Blaise Pascal invented a Calculator called Pascaline. It performs basic operations with more precise and faster.
• In 1671, by a German Mathematician and Philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz invented a calculator was also known as the Step Reckoner. It is a more advanced calculator than Pascaline. By using this we perform multiplication by repeating additional methods and shifting.
• The calculators are very heavy and occupy more place. To overcome this issue Abaque Rhabdologique invented a Pocket-friendly calculator.
• Later on, Humans are inventing various calculators which are pocket-friendly and small in size and with more advanced technology and faster calculations.
• In 1820, Arithmometer is invented with more advanced calculations which is very popular and used till world war 1.
• In the 19th century, Calculators are implemented in Desktops with more functionality for easy calculations. And in the year of 1993, Calculators are implemented in cellphones by IBM Simon.
• In the 20th century, Calculators are widely accessible in smartphones, Desktop and tablets and App stores.

Types of Calculators

There are four types of Calculators. 

1. Basic Calculators

The most basic calculator is four function calculator performs arithmetic operations like addition, Multiplication, Subtraction and Division. This are very low cost and used for only simple operations. These are sometimes called as Pocket calculators which are fit in the pocket. It is a Hand-held calculators and they are small enough to fix in pocket.

By using this Basic calculator we can able to perform small operations like addition, subtraction, Division and multiplication repeatedly. These calculators can be used in households, Elementary schools, offices etc.

2. Scientific Calculators

This calculator is used to perform scientific calculations. This calculator has more buttons and more functions like Trigonometric functions, logarithms, sine/cosine and exponential operations. Its display is larger when compared to basic calculators.

Dissimilar to basic calculators that can deal with more modest qualities, a scientific calculator can deal with numbers on a lot vaster scale, which can be valuable with regards to gathering information or functioning as a physicist or scientist. It can likewise compute negative scientific Notation.

3. Graphing Calculators

This calculator is similar to Scientific calculator but it also performs Graph Calculations. This is a significant instrument for visual students or those concentrating on science that requires a great deal of charting, like math.

A graphing calculator is a calculator gadget that can show plotted diagrams for complex conditions like parabolas and other plotted results. Graphing calculators are likewise more refined than fundamental adding machines in handling various conditions and performing more complicated sorts of computations

4. Financial Calculators

It is an Electronic device designed for solving financial problems and uses paper tape to print calculations for hard copy record-keeping. Financial calculators are fundamental for anybody concentrating on money or working in the monetary business.A financial calculator can be used for calculating financial functions. These financial functions are not offered in a regular calculator. From figuring simple interests to finding out the future value of your investments, an online calculator can provide you with answers in a second.