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Slide rule
Colorado School of Mines. Information & Technology Solutions
Colorado School of Mines. Information & Technology Solutions
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2018
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Abstract
The slide rule is a mechanical analog computer. The slide rule is used primarily for multiplication and division, and also for functions such as roots, logarithms and trigonometry. Slide rules come in a diverse range of styles but generally appear in a linear form with a standardized set of markings (scales) essential to performing mathematical computations. William Oughtred developed the slide rule in the 17th century based on the emerging work on logarithms by John Napier. Before the advent of the pocket calculator, it was the most commonly used calculation tool in science and engineering. The use of slide rules continued to grow through the 1950s and 1960s. To see them in action, see the film "Apollo 13" with Tom Hanks.