Zur Geschichte der finiten Differenzen
Since the time of the Romans finite differences were used to simplify computations in many ways; after the 17th century for instance for localizing zeroes of functions, approximating definite integrals or producing numerical tables. Up to 1900 they were used very rarely for solving differential equations numerically. After 1900, when the importance of differential equations grew dramatically, finite differences became one of the main tools for solving them. This article focusses on the state of knowledge and skills about the theory of finite differences on the eve of this change. It relies strongly on the article by D. Selivanov in the encyclopaedia because it provides the needed overview. Keywords: calculus of finite differences; state of knowledge around 1900; Demetrius Seliwanoff; encyclopaedia of the mathematical sciences and their applications, vol 1 (1904);