Who developed a mechanical device in the 17th century that could add, subtract, multiply, divide and find square roots?

Napier
Babbage
Pascal
Leibnitz E. None of the above

The correct answer is: B. Babbage

Babbage was an English mathematician, inventor, mechanical engineer, and polymath who originated the concept of a programmable computer. Considered to be the “father of the computer”, he conceptualized and invented the first computer, the Analytical Engine.

The Analytical Engine was designed to be a general-purpose computer that could be programmed to perform any type of calculation. It was never built, but it is considered to be the forerunner of the modern computer.

Napier was a Scottish mathematician and astronomer who is best known for his invention of logarithms. He also developed a system of Napierian bones, which were a mechanical aid to calculation.

Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher. He is best known for his work on probability theory, the philosophy of mathematics, and the invention of the first mechanical calculator, the Pascaline.

Leibniz was a German mathematician, philosopher, scientist, and polymath who is best known for his work on calculus, the development of the binary numeral system, and the invention of the first mechanical calculator, the Stepped Reckoner.

E is not an option.