Ada Lovelace was an English mathematician born in 1815 who is considered the first computer programmer. She was tutored in mathematics from a young age and excelled in both math and music. As an adult, she translated and expanded on descriptions of Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine, an early mechanical general-purpose computer. Her notes described how the Engine could be programmed to compute scientific and mathematical tables and relations. She is credited as the first person to recognize the full potential of a general-purpose computer and its ability to go beyond just calculating to include more general problem-solving.

1. Ada Lovelace & Programming Exploration by Diana Early For CIED 5050 Dr. Utley Summer 2011

2. Ada was born on December 10, 1815 in Picadilly Terrace, Middlesex (now in London) Daughter of poet Lord Byron and AnnabellaMillbanke Separated when Ada was a month old Father left England shortly after, she never met him. + = 1815 1820 1825 1830 1835 1840 1845 1850 1855

3. Her mother was so determined for Ada to not become a poet, she hiredmathematics and music tutors to counteract the poetic tendencies she may have from her father. One tutor was London University’s first professor of mathematics, Augustus De Morgan. He taught her advanced mathematics and had a very high opinion of her abilities. Another tutor was William Frend, an instructor in astronomy and mathematics. 1815 1820 1825 1830 1835 1840 1845 1850 1855

4. Ada excelled in both mathematics and music, especially the harp. In addition to the tutors’ lessons, Ada taught herself geometry at the age of 13. From the beginning. Ada had a chronic illness that may have been psychosomatic. This illness once left her unable to walk for three years at the age of 14. 1815 1820 1825 1830 1835 1840 1845 1850 1855

5. At 17, Ada was introduced to Mary Somerville who translated LaPlace’s works into English. Somerville encouraged Ada to continue to study mathematics and its applications. Through Somerville, Ada was able to hear Charles Babbage speak about his Analytical Engine in 1834. 1815 1820 1825 1830 1835 1840 1845 1850 1855

6. In 1835 she married William King, eighth Lord King and ten years older than her. Three years later she became Countess of Lovelace when William King became Earl, thus Lady Lovelace. This title allowed her to have more contact with elites mathematicians and scientists. They had three children, one of which became a famous traveler. 1815 1820 1825 1830 1835 1840 1845 1850 1855

8. Ada passed away November 27, 1852 at the young age of 36. She was buried next to her father, who also died to the age of 36. She was later known as the first computer programmer. In 1979 the US Department of Defense named a high-level computer-programming language after her. 1815 1820 1825 1830 1835 1840 1845 1850 1855

9. Calculator Programming Activity Teacher Preparation: Read the chapter on Programming in the appropriate graphing calculator guidebook. http://education.ti.com/calculators/downloads/US/Guidebooks/Search/ Student Goal: Have students write a program that inputs variables into formulas. (i.e. area formulas, surface area formulas, etc.)

10. Initial Questions What information do you need to calculate the area of a circle? What do we do with that information? What type of commands to we need to ask of the calculator? This should lead into a programming exploration, if necessary, the guidebooks have examples.

11. Probing Questions What else do you think we could ask of the calculator? Will programming only work for formulas? What other commands would we need to ask of the calculator to complete the mentioned tasks? How could this be used in a math class? How could this be used in a science class? Is programming a math or a science? What do you have to know to program?

12. Potential Students Solution Program:AreaTriangle :Prompt b,h :0.5bh->A :Disp “The area of the triangle is” , A