Arithmetica Logarithmica

Arithmetica Logarithmica was a seminal work published in 1624 by English mathematician Henry Briggs. This book introduced and popularized common logarithms, also known as Briggsian logarithms, which use base 10.123

Briggs's primary motivation for developing these logarithms was to simplify complex calculations for astronomers and mathematicians. Logarithms transform multiplication into addition, division into subtraction, and powers into multiplication, significantly reducing the time and effort required for computations.12

The Arithmetica Logarithmica contained extensive tables of logarithms for numbers from 1 to 20,000 and from 90,000 to 100,000, calculated to 14 decimal places. This work was instrumental in the widespread acceptance and use of logarithms across Europe, aiding scientific advancement for over three centuries until the advent of mechanical calculators and computers.12