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Most consist of three linear strips of the same length, aligned in parallel and interlocked so that the central strip can be moved lengthwise relative to the other two. Addition and subtraction steps in a calculation are done mentally or on paper, not on the slide rule.Įven the most basic student slide rules have more than two scales. Scientific notation is used to track the decimal point in more formal calculations.
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The user determines the location of the decimal point in the result, based on mental estimation. Numbers aligned with the marks give the approximate value of the product, quotient, or other calculated result. In general, mathematical calculations are performed by aligning a mark on the sliding central strip with a mark on one of the fixed strips, and then observing the relative positions of other marks on the strips. More complex slide rules allow other calculations, such as square roots, exponentials, logarithms, and trigonometric functions. In its most basic form, the slide rule uses two logarithmic scales to allow rapid multiplication and division of numbers, common operations that can be time-consuming and error-prone when done on paper. Each number on the D scale is double the number above it on the C scale.Ī typical 10 inch student slide rule (Pickett N902-T simplex trig) Despite their similar appearance, a slide rule serves a purpose different from that of a standard ruler: a ruler measures physical distances and aids in drawing straight lines, while a slide rule performs mathematical operations.Ī slide rule being used to multiply by 2.
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Their use began to wane as computers were introduced, starting in the 1950s, and the scientific calculator made them largely obsolete by the early 1970s. It was the most commonly used calculation tool in science and engineering. The slide rule (often nicknamed a "slipstick") is a mechanical analog computer, consisting of calibrated strips, usually a fixed outer pair and a movable inner one, with a sliding window called the cursor. Tracing the History of the Computer - Slide Rule