Gottfried Leibniz

Updated: 09/15/2017 by Computer Hope
Gottfried Leibniz

Name: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

Born: July 1, 1646, in Leipzig, Electorate of Saxony

Death: November 14, 1716 (Age: 70)

Computer-related contributions

  • German mathematician and philosopher and one of the most prolific inventors in the field of mechanical calculators.
  • Invented and refined the binary number system, which is at the foundation of virtually all digital computers.
  • He was the first to describe a pinwheel calculator (1685) and invented the Leibniz wheel, used in the arithmometer, the first mass-produced mechanical calculator.
  • Introduced the Step Reckoner, a device to multiply, divide, and evaluate square roots.

Significant publications

  • De Arte Combinatoria (On the Art of Combination) (1966).
  • Hypothesis Physica Nova (New Physical Hypothesis) (1671).
  • Confessio philosophi (A Philosopher's Creed) (1673).
  • Nova methodus pro maximis et minimis (New method for maximums and minimums) (1684).
  • Discours de métaphysique; Martin and Brown (1686).
  • Explication de l'Arithmétique Binaire (Explanation of Binary Arithmetic) (1703).

Quotes

"Music is the pleasure the human mind experiences from counting without being aware that it is counting."