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Step 9Practice and Impress Your Friends!
Your set of Napier's Bones is now complete--all you need to do is practice! The free bones should align with the fixed numbers, and you read across left to right, adding inside the parallelograms (see step 2 for full use instructions).
Remember that not all numbers will work with the numbers of bones that you've made. With four bones, you cannot multiply the number 9999 because you only have two '9' digits. A number like 9471 will work perfectly, though.
Once you know how to use them, they are fun to try and to show people, especially if you've made them yourself. Everyone (all ages and backgrounds) I show the bones to thinks they are really cool and interesting. A "what's that sitting over there on your messy desk?" usually leads to an "oooh" or a "wow." Plus, you can challenge people to multiplication games: you, with the bones versus your arch-nemesis, armed with only pen and paper and his/her/it's measly little brain.
This can be a great project for kids, too, if you cut the wood first and let them insert the numbers themselves, decorate, and glue. They will have their own set of Napier's Bones, just like I did back in 4th grade that I have kept for nearly a decade.
Mathtastically,
joshf
Remember that not all numbers will work with the numbers of bones that you've made. With four bones, you cannot multiply the number 9999 because you only have two '9' digits. A number like 9471 will work perfectly, though.
Once you know how to use them, they are fun to try and to show people, especially if you've made them yourself. Everyone (all ages and backgrounds) I show the bones to thinks they are really cool and interesting. A "what's that sitting over there on your messy desk?" usually leads to an "oooh" or a "wow." Plus, you can challenge people to multiplication games: you, with the bones versus your arch-nemesis, armed with only pen and paper and his/her/it's measly little brain.
This can be a great project for kids, too, if you cut the wood first and let them insert the numbers themselves, decorate, and glue. They will have their own set of Napier's Bones, just like I did back in 4th grade that I have kept for nearly a decade.
Mathtastically,
joshf
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Sep 7, 2008. 2:06 AMCinders2001
says:
Very well put together.....I just need to learn how to use them!! Probably easier than I thinkt....but i'm thick!! Thanks.
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Oct 23, 2008. 11:19 PMbkind2all
says:
as noted below, wikipedia explains.
Reply
Aug 8, 2008. 11:51 AMfrkohler
says:
Muito legal!!! Muito mais fácil de usar que o ábaco! Congratulações!
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