Notes about Pascal

Back to Lecture Notes

1642 - France - Blaise Pascal - Mathematician, Physicist, Philosopher, Clergyman,

First mechanical calculator

Mathematics: Theory of probability, conic sections

Physics: Pascal's Law of hydraulics - pressure applied to a confined liquid is transmitted with equal force in every direction, regardless of where the pressure is applied. eg: hydraulic brakes.

Established one of the earliest public transportation systems - a bus line in Paris.

Clergy: age of 32 entered a religious order.

Died at age 39.

Pascalene:

Demonstrated that an apparently intellectual process, like arithmetic, could be performed by a machine.

Failed to sell: (10 or 15 sold)

Tendency to malfunction.

Limited mathematical ability. Only add; subtract with difficulty.

Expensive. Cost about what annual salary of a clerk was.

Suspicion of mechanical devices. Feeling that it could be rigged like roulette wheels were rigged.

Basic concept survived until recent years in mechanical adding machines.