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I didn’t know what a Leibniz calculating machine was.

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I had no idea what was in store for me.

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At first it wasn’t easy to understand.

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But then we even got a grasp of the tens carry mechanism.

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We learned something new.

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These are pupils of Herschelschule,

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a Hanover grammar school.

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All of them are gifted

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and very much into science and maths.

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They wouldn’t be here otherwise.

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Today we look into Leibniz’s four operations machine,

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which could perform all 4 basic arithmetic operations.

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Leibniz lived during the early Enlightenment.

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At this time, mechanical calculation was in high demand.

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Business meant juggling a lot of numbers.

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This was Leibniz’s driving force.

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I showed the pupils why and how this machine works.

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We want to multiply 345,679 by 9.

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We set the digits on the input section

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and lock it.

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Now we turn magna rota crank nine times.

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Clockwise.

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Explaining the function doesn’t work without asking why.

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Why does this work?

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Starting with the place-value system.

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The function has to be explained to a certain degree.

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Pupils have to work it out for themselves.

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Knowing how to do something isn’t enough.

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They should also ask why.

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I’m glad to see how following the complex mindset

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of 300 years ago has influenced them.

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Young people should not only appreciate modern technology,

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but also learn about the astounding feats performed many centuries ago.

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This gives them a better understanding of the past

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and makes history come alive.