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Algebra Geometry Probability in The 17th Century 1
Algebra Geometry Probability in The 17th Century 1
1550 – 1617
Scottish
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Blaise Pascal
1623 – 1662
French
• Born in Clermont-Ferrand
• Formulated one of the basic
theorems in geometry,
known as “Pascal’s Mystic
Hexagon Theorem” described
on his “Essai pour les
coniques” (1639).
Pascal’s Mystic Hexagon Theorem
Pascal: Pascaline
• In 1642, he invented the first functional
mechanical calculating machine, known as
“Pascaline”, able to perform additions and
subtractions.
Pascal’s Triangle
• A convenient tabular
presentation of
binomial coefficient,
where each number
is the sum of the two
numbers directly
above
Pascal’s Triangle
Pascal: Mathematical Theory of
Probability
• This was the idea of equally probable
outcomes, that the probability of something
occurring could be computed by enumerating
the number of equally likely ways it would
occur, and dividing this by the total number of
possible outcomes of the given situation. This
allowed the use of fractions and ratios in the
calculation of the likelihood of events, and the
operation of multiplication and addition on
these fractional probabilities.