Difference Engine

Developed by Charles Babbage, the Difference Engine was built in 1832. The main purpose of this machines was to analyze and calculate polynomial functions and it did this by using the method of finite differences to crunch numbers. It was operated using punch cards so that it could the store the large sums after efficiently calculating them. The amount of numbers this machines could count to was 1 to N and it could use these numbers for all its calculation. Babbage was inspired by Pascal's arithmetic machine, taking Pascal's concept and tweaking it to make the Difference Enigne. It preceded Babbage's subsequent Analytical Engine.