B chapter.indd - Charles Babbage Institute - University of Minnesota

84
Erwin Tomash Library
Babbage, Charles Babbage, Charles
B 44
Babbage, Charles (1791–1871)
Observations on the analogy which subsists between the
calculus of functions and other branches of analysis.
In Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of
London, Vol. 107, Part II, 1817.
Year: 1817
Place: London
Publisher: The Royal Society
Edition: 1st
Language: English
Binding: contemporary leather
Pagination: pp. 197–216
Size: 269x205 mm
Van S CBCP #7; Babb CBLP #6; Dub MWCB, p. 230;
In this mathematical paper Babbage shows how one may
use analogies from one branch of mathematics to find
truths in another. He is careful, however, to point out that
analogy can only be used as a guide and not as a proof.
Illustrations available:
Title page
B 45
Babbage, Charles (1791–1871)
Observations on the application of machinery to the
computation of mathematical tables. In Memoirs of the
Astronomical Society of London. v.1 pt. 2.
Year: 1822
Place: London
Publisher: Baldwin, Cradock and Joy
Edition: 1st
Language: English
Binding: contemporary three-quarter leather; spine gilt
Pagination: v.1, pp. viii, iii–vi, 532; v.2, pp. iii–viii, iii–viii,
564, ccxxiv, [4] v.3, pp. viii, v–viii, 432
Collation: v.1, A 6 B–2C 4 2D 2 2E 2 2F–3Y 4 3Z 2 ; v.2, A 6 B–
2R 4 2S 2 2T–4C 4 a–2d 4 2e 6 v.3, A 6 B–3I 4
Size: 267x208 mm
Reference: Van S CBCP, #19; Babb CBLP, #21; Ran ODC, p.
405; MCK CBCW, v. 2, pp. 33–37
Babbage was a leading figure in the formation of the
Astronomical Society and read several papers there. The
first volume of this three-volume set contains a paper on
difference equations that was inspired by his attempt to
build a Difference Engine. It also indicates that he was
considering a different arrangement of the figure wheels
(so that they could add to any other axle and not just to
that of the immediately preceding difference). This more
flexible arrangement of the organization of the system
was one of the factors that eventually led to his ideas for
an Analytical Engine (see illustrations). This early paper
on his Difference Engine was written in the same year as
his letter to Sir Humphry Davy.
Illustrations available:
Quotation regarding the rearrangement of the figure wheels.
B 46
Babbage, Charles (1791–1871)
Observations on the discovery in various localities
of the remains of human art mixed with the bones of
extinct races of animals.
Year: 1847
Place: London
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Edition: 1st
Language: English
Binding: offprint
Pagination: 16 pp.
Size: 212x137 mm
Reference: Van S CBCP, #70; Babb CBLP, #71, #73; Ran
ODC, p. 405; MCK CBCW, v. 4, pp. 165–217
Recent discoveries in France and Sicily of human and
extinct animal bones in the same deposit had led to
questions concerning the antiquity of humans. Babbage
points out here that one had to be cautious in assuming
that they were of the same age and presents arguments
as to how natural geological processes might have been
responsible for commingling the remains of species from
two different ages. This is a presentation copy to George
Ticknor.
Illustrations available:
Title page
B 47
Babbage, Charles (1791–1871)
Observations on the notation employed in the calculus
of functions.
Year: 1822
Place: Cambridge
Publisher: Cambridge Philosophical Society
Edition: 1st
Language: English
Binding: modern paper wrappers
Pagination: pp. 63–76
Size: 272x212 mm.
Reference: Van S CBCP, #19; Babb CBLP, #21; Ran ODC, p.
405; MCK CBCW, v. 2, pp. 33–37
In this extract from Transactions of the Cambridge
Philosophical Society, Babbage begins his commentary
with the assertion that many mathematical discoveries
are dependent on the development of a suitable
mathematical notation. See also the entry for Babbage,
On the influence of signs in mathematical reasoning,
1826.
Illustrations available:
First page