location arithmetic

Questions

What does location arithmetic mean?

A device and technique described in Napier's treatise Rabdologiæ for performing multiplication, division and extraction of square roots by using counters to represent numbers in binary.

Where does location arithmetic come from?

Calque of Latin arithmeticae localis, coined by Scottish landowner and mathematician John Napier (1550–1617) in his 1617 treatise Rabdologiæ (written in Latin).

How to pronounce location arithmetic

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “location arithmetic”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “location arithmetic”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “location arithmetic” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.