Print PDF
Favorite
Email
Step 3Complex funtions
To be fair, these functions aren't complex at all. You can do them in your head if you teach yourself floating point math, eliminating the need for a slide rule totally. Then, you can convince people you're an idiot-savant. Not the best bar trick, I admit.
The center of the slide rule actually comes out completely. Flip it over and you will be delighted to see new scales.
They let you perform trigonometric functions and their inverse in the same fashion as you performed the functions described in step 1.
Finally, your slide rule may differ. It may offer more or less functions, or function to three decimal places instead of two. It may also be circular instead of linear. You may also trivially make your own slide rule given wood or paper, cutting implements, and preferably a measure of sobriety. It is after all only two sticks that move relative to each other!
There are also many more complex operations you can perform with a slide rule, which are beyond the scope of this text. None of these are random number generation, so don't forget to carry dice if you need to do this. Some hobbyists have some that have over 20 sides and come in bright colors, so generate substantial entropy per roll as compared to coin tosses... and are easier to find when you inevitably drop them into leaf litter while climbing a tree, while doing a field study.
The center of the slide rule actually comes out completely. Flip it over and you will be delighted to see new scales.
They let you perform trigonometric functions and their inverse in the same fashion as you performed the functions described in step 1.
Finally, your slide rule may differ. It may offer more or less functions, or function to three decimal places instead of two. It may also be circular instead of linear. You may also trivially make your own slide rule given wood or paper, cutting implements, and preferably a measure of sobriety. It is after all only two sticks that move relative to each other!
There are also many more complex operations you can perform with a slide rule, which are beyond the scope of this text. None of these are random number generation, so don't forget to carry dice if you need to do this. Some hobbyists have some that have over 20 sides and come in bright colors, so generate substantial entropy per roll as compared to coin tosses... and are easier to find when you inevitably drop them into leaf litter while climbing a tree, while doing a field study.
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
1
comment
|
Add Comment
|
5
Jul 24, 2008. 12:51 AMRishnai
says:
"preferably sobriety" rofl I know some folks who might try and make a slide rule when they got drunk. I'm one of them...
Reply
 |
Add Comment
|
