slide rules

[John Brann]

On Mon, May 19, 2008 at 01:52:09PM +1000, Greg 'groggy' Lehey wrote:
> 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.


I'm afraid I don;t use it much - but I still have mine to hand.  It's on my
desk, in New York City, with a cricket ball.  Both objects are there to 
confuse the locals.  Both succeed.

John

-- 
        Unreal City,
     Under the brown fog of a winter dawn,

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