Mad Slide Ruling
  
HOW A SLIDE RULE WORKS  
line decor
  HOME  ::  THEORY  :: 
line decor
 
 
 
 
 
 
HOW DOES A
SLIDE RULE WORK?

The working of a slide rule is based on the properties of the logarithm, a name first coined by John Napier.  Needless to say, one does not need to know how a logarithm is calculated, but some understanding of what a logarithm is and its properties allows the user to perform many types of operations with more ease.

Once you have worked with the slide rule for a while, you are able to perform many complex operations easily.  However, the beginner can be somewhat mystified about why the slider or scales are positioned the way they are.

 

 

 

 
 

BRING BACK THE SLIDE RULE
There is always a lot of talk and discussion about the basic number skills of our students, namely, why they are so poor. What has bought all this about?

Well technology has a lot to answer for, but you can't blame the technology; it's the way it has been implemented. But as for getting the idea of estimation as so forth, why not consider using the humble slide rule?

More on this later!