The Nursery Rhyme, Multiplication is vexation can be dated back to an Elizabethan document dated 1570 called "A description of the Admirable Table of Logarithmes ..."It was written by the Scottish mathematician John Napier (1550-1617) and printed for Simon Waterson in 1618. John Napier was one of the real geniuses of the *Elizabethan era who invented logarithms (1614) and ‘Napier’s bones’ which was an early mechanical device for calculating multiplication and division. The word algorithm is derived from the Greek word arithmos which means 'number'. He was the son of the 7th Laird of Merchiston, Sir Archibald Napier and was born at Merchiston Castle. He was therefore given the apt nickname the Marvelous Merchiston" * We recommend the following page for additional Facts and Information Elizabethan era Help us to maintain our history and heritage through the words and lyrics of old Nursery Rhymes like 'Multiplication is vexation' |