Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Open University

John Napier

The Open University via OpenLearn

Go to class Write review
Coursera Ad

Learn AI, Data Science & Business — Earn Certificates That Get You Hired

Learn More → Corporate Finance Institute Ad

Learn Excel and Financial Modeling the Way Finance Teams Actually Use Them

Learn More →

Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates – 40% Off
One Coursera Plus subscription covers most Professional Certificates on Coursera.
Unlock All Certificates
This free course looks at Scotsman John Napier (1550-1617) and his invention which radically altered the course of mathematics. Napier dabbled in mathematics for over 40 years and near the end of his life he introduced his tables of logarithms which drastically reduced the work needed to do complicated calculations, such as those required in astronomy and navigation. Napier’s ‘excellent brief rules’ were quickly adopted and improved upon.This OpenLearn course provides a sample of Level 2 study in Mathematics.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 Excellent Brief Rules
  • 1 Excellent Brief Rules
  • 1.1 Background to Napier and his work
  • 1.2 Napier's bones
  • 1.3 Napier's approach to logarithms
  • 1.4 Napier and motion
  • 1.5 Napier and Briggs
  • 1.6 Spreading the word about logarithms
  • 1.7 Kepler and logarithms
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements

Tags

Reviews

5 rating at OpenLearn based on 2 ratings

Start your review of John Napier

Go to class

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Sign up for free
Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.