History of mathematics · Maths EE idea · Solid
How logarithms were first calculated
A research question to start from
How were the first tables of logarithms constructed before calculus, and how accurate were the methods?
A starting point, not your question: change the case, the comparison or the limit until it is yours. The research-question builder helps you check it.
Why it works as a maths EE
A historical method reconstructed mathematically and evaluated.
Mathematics you would need
- Logarithm laws
- Geometric and arithmetic sequences
- Interpolation
- Error analysis
Much of this goes beyond the DP course. That is expected in a maths EE, but you must understand and explain everything you use.
One possible line of attack
- Explain the idea of matching geometric and arithmetic progressions.
- Reconstruct a method for computing logarithms by repeated square roots.
- Assess accuracy against modern values.
Scope and difficulty
Solid. Solid; use reliable secondary sources for the history.
Pitfalls
- History without mathematics.
- Anachronistic claims.
Where to start reading
Search a library catalogue or a university's open lecture notes for: history of logarithms Briggs square roots method; Napier logarithm construction. Prefer textbooks, lecture notes and journal articles to a single website, and cite everything you use (how to reference a maths EE).