Final answer:
The Sheutz calculating machine included several functions such as computing polynomial values, typesetting, and doing calculations faster and more reliably than manual methods; therefore, the answer is 'e) All of the above'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The calculating machine of Georg and Edvard Sheutz computed the values of polynomial functions, typeset the results of its computations, performed calculations faster than they could be done manually, and performed calculations more reliably than they could be done manually. Essentially, the correct answer to the student's question is e) All of the above. The Sheutz calculating machine was an important step towards automation in computing and typesetting.
Automated typesetting became increasingly significant with inventions like the Monotype and Linotype machines, which greatly improved the speed of setting type compared to manual methods. The advent of digital computers allowed for the efficient processing of large amounts of information. They translated data into a binary code of ones and zeros, a method far superior for managing large datasets compared to analog computers.
Engineers had to apply their knowledge of mathematics and science to create these pioneering devices. Alan Turing's concept of a universal machine, which he presented in 1936, became a foundational principle in the development of modern computers, demonstrating the deep interconnection between engineering, computer science, and the mathematics underlying computation.