Pascaline

These two mechanical calculators are displayed in the Musee du Ranquet (Clermont-Ferrand):


Pascaline was invented by Blaise Pascal in 1642. The device is able to add two decimal numbers. Using ten's complement it is also possible to subtract. Example: 65 - 27 can be computed as 65 + 73 without carry, where 73 is the complement of 27.

Pascal has started production of his calculator (about 50 machines were produced), but there was no interest, so he had to stop. The world had to wait another 300 years until electronics made the calculating machine a real success.


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