Friday, April 14, 2017

Origin of word - Exponent


The word Exponent has come from the Latin word - Exoponere. Exo + ponere has two words - Exo means - out of whereas ponere means - place.In simple word, when the index is raised out of line, it is called exponent.


Here, 3 is raised from the normal line.

Michael Stifel ( 1487 - 1567) was the first mathematician who used the word Exponent in its mathematical term as written in his book - Arithmetica Integra

He wrote, "Est autem 3 exponens ipsius octonarij, & 5 est exponens 32 & 8 est exponens numeri
256" (Smith vol. 2, page 521).

The Latin translates roughly as

But 3 is the exponent of that same eight, and 5 is the exponent of 32, and 8 is the exponent of the number 256.

Here Michael is talking about the base 2
2^3 = 8 and 2^5 = 32 so as 2^8 = 256

Happy reading

Dr Rajesh Kumar Thakur

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http://mathspearl.blogspot.in/


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Thursday, April 6, 2017

Origin of word - Logarithm



Log or Logarithm is used to simplify calculation. The word came into existence due to John Napier (1550- 1617).
It is the combination of two Greek words Logos - reason or ratio and artihmus - number.

You can use log table to simplify the calculation. The first log table was given by John Napier which was later modified by Henry Briggs

Happy reading

Dr Rajesh Kumar Thakur

Origin of Word - Hypotenuse


Hypotenuse is a common word used in Trignometry

It has come from the Greek word - Hypo means for under and tein - to stretch.

Simply hypotesuse is the line segment stretched under the right angled triangle.

Happy reading

Dr Rajesh Kumar Thakur

Origin of word - Diagonal



The word diagonal is derived from the Latin word - diagonus. Here Dia means to pass through and gonus means angle. In simple word, a diagonal is a line segment that joins the two angles of opposite vertices.

happy reading

DR Rajesh Kumar Thakur

Origin of word - Exponent