Navigation with only addition, subtraction, and tables

· John Cook · Sept. 23, 2026, 2:50 p.m.
Summary
This blog post discusses a historical anecdote about Nathaniel Bowditch teaching navigational calculations using only basic arithmetic operations. It touches on the use of logarithmic tables for calculations, highlighting a simplified approach to solving complex problems without advanced math. The narrative unfolds around the context of navigation and mathematics from a historical perspective.
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