Abacus was the first calculating machine invented to count large numbers.

It was invented in the 16th century in china. Simple calculations, like a addition or subtractions, could be performed using the abacus.

The analytical engine, an important step in the history of computers, was the design of a mechanical general-purpose computer by English mathematician Charles Babbage. In its logical design the machine was essentially modern, anticipating the first completed general-purpose computers by about 100 years. It was first described in 1837. Babbage continued to refine the design until his death in 1871. Because of the complexity of the machine, the lack of project management science, the expense of its construction, and the difficulty of assessing its value by Parliament relative to other projects being lobbied for, the engine was never built.

In 1641 Blaise Pascal invented pascaline, one of the first mechanical calculators. It consisted of a box with eight movable wheels. Using the Pascaline, addition, subtraction, multiplication &division of numbers as big as hundreds & thousands could be easily done.

n 19th century Charles Babbage invented a machine called the different engine to prepare mathematical tables.

He also invented the first general purpose computer known as the analytical engine which had the same basic elements as the modern computers input, output & memory device. With the advancement in the invention of computers they were further classified according to the technology they used.

In 1616, sir john Napier made a calculating device, called Napier's bones for additions, subtraction, multiplication & division of numbers. The device was called Napier's bones because it had multiplication tables inscribed on strips of wood or carved bone. The improved form of Napier's bones was used for performing division & finding square roots.