THE MAGIC OF NUMBERS IN THE SIMPLICITY OF JOHN NAPIER'S LOGARITHMS

Abstract

John Napier, Baron Merchiston (1550–1617), was a Scottish mathematician and theologian whose contributions revolutionized science and mathematics. According to Fernandez, Tomas, and Tamaro (2004), Napier combined his Protestant faith with a critical approach to the Catholic Church, expressed in his theological work A Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation of Saint John. Although this work was notable in its time, its legacy endures mainly for the development of logarithms, a fundamental tool in the simplification of complex mathematical calculations.