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a device that performs arithmetic operations through mechanical means, often using gears, levers, and other physical mechanisms, predating electronic calculators
What is a "mechanical calculator"?
A mechanical calculator is a type of calculator that operates using gears, levers, and other mechanical components to perform arithmetic calculations. It was widely used before the advent of electronic calculators. Users would turn a crank or press buttons to input numbers, and the machine would physically move parts to carry out operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Mechanical calculators were often used in offices, banks, and businesses for tasks like bookkeeping and accounting. While they have been replaced by electronic models, they were important in the development of modern computing.
