- Abacus
- Comes from the Greek word abax, which means "sand tray."
Originally, columns of pebbles were laid out on the sand for purposes of
counting. See
calculate and
exchequer.
- Algorithm
- This term, which means "rules for computing" in English,
comes from al-Khowarizmi (Try saying it fast), an Arab mathematician
living around A.D. 825 who completed the earliest known work in
arithmetic using Arabic numerals. He was the first to establish rules
for adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing with the new Arabic
numerals.
- Calculate
- Comes from calculus, the Latin word for pebble. In Ancient
Rome, as in Ancient Greece, pebbles were used in the abacus or counting
frame in order to carry out basic arithmetic computations (see
abacus
and
exchequer).
- Exchequer
- The Moors introduced the Abacus to Europe so that the
Europeans could multiply, and the monks spread this device
throughout Europe. In Britain, it was used but with their
own twist to it: they used a checkboard and checker-like
pieces (rather than the usual rods and beads) -- and this
British version gave rise to the "exchequer" in "Chancellor
of the Exchequer."
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