Know How To Use a Slide Rule?

high_rolla writes "How many of you have actually used a slide rule? The slide rule was a simple yet powerful and important tool for engineers and scientists before the days of calculators (let alone PCs). In fact, several people I know still prefer to use them. In the interest of preserving this icon we have created a virtual slide rule for you to play with." Wikipedia lists seven other online simulations.

Comments

I learned how to use my slide rule...

[moosejaw99]

at around 10 years old. I've been using it ever since, and don't plan on ever stopping.

Re:I learned how to use my slide rule...

[Urantian]

Actually, one AND one is ONE.

At least

[edittard]

At least a slide rule is more accurate than excel 2007.

Nuclear slide rule.

[pclminion]

I prefer to use a tactical nuclear slide rule, myself.

Pheh, youngsters.

[Blnky]

You youngsters and your simpleton slide rules. Try a real one that makes you use that noggin of yours. http://home.earthlink.net/~apendragn/runish/sliderule/index.html

Around here

[Tarlus]

The only slide rule around here is to not push the kid in front of you.

Re:Of course

[Daniel_Staal]

I've never had one required (courses tended to require graphing calculators by the time I got to them), but I found one in my grandpa's desk and learned to use it. Then I carried it with me to high school and gave it to anyone who asked to borrow my calculator.

nerd phallus

[netsavior]

the bigger the slide rule, the more accurate the calculation...

Re:Of course

[rrhal]

A slide rule gets you 3-4 digits faster than a calculator. You have to know how to use it.

I was in the last class in my high school that learned how to use a slide rule. I was in the first class in my college where owning a scientific calculator was required for entry.

As a freshman my Econ professor asked the class if anyone with a calculator would do a division for him. I was carrying an inexpensive plastic slide rule in my back pack. I did the division and said the answer. As he turned to thank me he did a double take and said "What is this?" taking the slide rule from me and holding it up. I said "Its new, a solar powered calculator that never needs batteries." "What will they think of next?" he pretended to marvel.

The point of that whole story is that about 15 people probably had pulled out a calculator and started to do the division and I was able to beat all of them by several seconds.