Naplótáblák

Naplótáblák, a Hungarian term, translates to "log tables" in English. These were historically used by mathematicians, scientists, and engineers to perform complex calculations before the advent of electronic calculators and computers. Logarithm tables, trigonometric tables, and other mathematical function tables were printed in books and were essential tools for many professions.

The principle behind logarithm tables is that multiplication and division can be simplified into addition and subtraction. By looking up the logarithms of two numbers, adding them together, and then finding the antilogarithm of the sum, one could arrive at the product of the original numbers. Similarly, subtracting logarithms and finding the antilogarithm simplified division. This process, though tedious, was significantly faster and more accurate than performing long multiplication or division by hand, especially for large numbers.

Trigonometric tables provided pre-calculated values for the sine, cosine, and tangent of various angles, aiding in surveying, navigation, and engineering problems involving triangles and circular motion.

The widespread availability and use of naplótáblák declined dramatically with the development of mechanical calculators, followed by electronic calculators and powerful computers. While they are largely obsolete for practical calculation today, they represent an important chapter in the history of scientific and mathematical computation, illustrating the ingenuity employed to overcome computational challenges in the pre-digital era.