Infinite analytical procedures for the computation of logarithms in works by Benito Bails (1731–1797)

Abstract

During the Spanish eighteenth century, a process of modernization took place in scientific knowledge, partly driven by the circulation and appropriation of new scientific ideas. In this context, the Spanish mathematician Benito Bails (1731–1797) published his course Elementos de Matemática (Elements of Mathematics) consisting of ten volumes (1779–1799), in which, among other subjects, he presented one of the most complete mathematical developments of logarithmic calculation methods of his time, by using the infinity through infinite series. The aim of our article is to demonstrate how algebraic analytical reasoning enabled Bails to obtain new and more efficient infinite algorithms that converge more quickly in the computation of logarithms in any system. We show how Euler's number ‘e’ is calculated, probably for the first time in Spanish teaching, in an eighteenth century mathematical text. Our analysis concludes that Bails’ course constituted an innovation and provides evidence of its creativity, originality and ingenuity.