![]() Scientific notation is used to track the decimal point for more precise calculations. The user may estimate the location of the decimal point in the result by mentally interpolating between labeled graduations. More elaborate slide rules can perform other calculations, such as square roots, exponentials, logarithms, and trigonometric functions. ![]() Then by applying the law of the logarithm of a product, the product of the two numbers can be read. Calculations that can be reduced to simple addition or subtraction using those precomputed functions can be solved by aligning the two rulers and reading the approximate result.įor example, a number to be multiplied on one logarithmic-scale ruler can be aligned with the start of another such ruler to sum their logarithms. Basic concepts Simple slide rule made from index cards marked with powers of 2, calculating 8x4 by aligning the bottom ruler to start where the top ruler is 8, and then reading at the number above where the bottom ruler is 4.Įach ruler's scale has graduations labeled with precomputed outputs of various mathematical functions, acting as a lookup table that maps from position on the ruler as each function's input. In the United States, the slide rule is colloquially called a slipstick. But after the handheld scientific calculator was introduced in 1972 and became inexpensive in the mid-1970s, slide rules became largely obsolete, so most suppliers departed the business. The slide rule's ease of use, ready availability, and low cost caused its use to continue to grow through the 1950s and 1960s, even as desktop electronic computers were gradually introduced. Before the advent of the scientific pocket calculator, it was the most commonly used calculation tool in science and engineering. It made calculations faster and less error-prone than evaluating on paper. Maximum accuracy for standard linear slide rules is about three decimal significant digits, while scientific notation is used to keep track of the order of magnitude of results.Įnglish mathematician and clergyman Reverend William Oughtred and others developed the slide rule in the 17th century based on the emerging work on logarithms by John Napier. Nor is it designed for addition or subtraction, which is usually performed using other methods, like using an abacus. Though similar in name and appearance to a standard ruler, the slide rule is not meant to be used for measuring length or drawing straight lines. The slide rule is closely related to nomograms used for application-specific computations. Slide rules manufactured for specialized fields such as aviation or finance typically feature additional scales that aid in specialized calculations particular to those fields. Slide rules exist in a diverse range of styles and generally appear in a linear, circular or cylindrical form. It is one of the simplest analog computers. Typical ten-inch (25 cm) student slide rule (Pickett N902-T simplex trig)Ī slide rule is a hand-operated mechanical calculator consisting of slidable rulers for evaluating mathematical operations such as multiplication, division, exponents, roots, logarithms, and trigonometry. ![]() For other uses, see Slide rule (disambiguation).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |