Quote: Babbage's analytical engine could compute any formula that consisted of operations on variables and conditional modifications

Quotation

Every formula which the Analytical Engine can be required to compute consists of certain algebraical operations to be performed upon given letters, and of certain other modifications depending on the numerical value assigned to these letters. There are therefore two sets of cards, [operation and variable cards] ... [p. 56] when any formula is required to be computed, a set of operation cards must be strung together, which contain the series of operations in the order in which they occur. Another set of cards must then be strung together, to call in the variables into the mill, the order in which they are required to be acted upon. ... The Analytical Engine is therefore a machine of the most general nature.   Google-1   Google-2

Published before 1923

Additional Titles

Quote: Babbage's analytical engine used a set of operation cards and a set of variable cards; each set strung together

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