As a young adult she took an interest in mathematics , and in particular Babbage 's work on the analytical engine . Between 1842 and 1843 she translated an article by Italian mathematician Luigi Menabrea on the engine . During a nine-month period in 1842 â `` 43 , Lovelace translated Italian mathematician Luigi Menabrea 's memoir on Babbage 's newest proposed machine , the Analytical Engine .