“I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.”

— Charles Babbage

Passages from the Life of a Philosopher (1864), ch. 5 "Difference Engine No. 1"
Passages from the Life of a Philosopher (1864)
Context: On two occasions I have been asked, — "Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?" In one case a member of the Upper, and in the other a member of the Lower, House put this question. I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.

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Charles Babbage40

mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical enginee… 1791–1871

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