On Sunday, 18 May 2008 at 17:18:30 -0400, Jim Capozzoli wrote: > So, I pulled out the slide rule yesterday that's older then I am..and > I figured out how to multiply/divide on it. Is there anybody out > there still using slide rules for day to day math? Or does anybody > have any interesting stories/reminiscences about slide rules? I was > considering figuring out how to do Trig on it and then taking my Trig > final with it. :)
Heh. I don't know where my slide rule is, but it's definitely a lot younger than I am. So the following is from memory. It applies to the conventional slide rules that I know, with C/D scales going from 1 to 10 at the bottom, and A/B scales going from 1 to 100 at the top (giving squares of the corresponding scale below). To multiply two numbers, you place the 1 on the C scale (bottom of the slide) against the first number on the D scale (directly below on the body). Move the cursor (or your eye :-) to the second number on the C scale, and read off the result on the D scale. To divide one number by another, you place the divisor the C scale above the dividend on the D scale. Read off the quotient on the D scale below the 1 on the C scale. Greg -- See complete headers for address and phone numbers.
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