When Was Proportional Compass Invented?

This sector or proportional compass (also known as a "military compass") was designed and built by Galileo Galilei (1546-1642) around 1597.

When was the geometry compass invented?

Galileo invented the geometric and military compass, his first commercial scientific instrument, in 1597.

What did Galileo's proportional compass do?

9) With the seven proportional lines traced on the legs of the compass and the four scales marked on the quadrant, it was possible to perform with the greatest of ease all sorts of arithmetical and geometric calculations, ranging from calculating interest to extracting square and cube roots, from drawing polygons to ...