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Ada Lovelace wrote the world's first published computer algorithm in 1843
Her notes on Babbage's Analytical Engine included an algorithm to calculate Bernoulli numbers
Mathematics pioneer Ada Lovelace translated an Italian paper on Charles Babbage's proposed Analytical Engine, adding extensive personal notes in 1843. Her annotations contained a step-by-step procedure for the machine to compute Bernoulli numbers automatically, which is widely recognized as the first published computer program. She also foresaw that computers could manipulate symbols beyond plain numbers.
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Tags: ada-lovelace, algorithm, computing
Ada Lovelace wrote the world's first published computer algorithm in 1843: the short answers
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- Her notes on Babbage's Analytical Engine included an algorithm to calculate Bernoulli numbers. The figure is taken from Computer History Museum, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
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