tad10
Elisha Dushku
- 5,534
- 601
Since you asked (spoilered for length):
I went back to school this year to get qualified for the Patent Bar so I'm taking a heavy math/science course load and was appalled to see students these days can't live without their graphing calculators (which either didn't exist when I last took Math or were in their most rudimentary form - been a while).
For homework, I solve everything pencil & paper and then if a numerical answer is required (note: we're talking calculus so majority of problems either don't have numerical answers or the numerical answer is tertiary to the calculus/algebraic manipulation so the final answer is something ridiculously simple and doesn't require calculation) I use a Ti-30 if the numerical answers require precision > 2 places (which is most of the time if I've got to calculate an answer) or slide rule if it doesn't and then use the other to check the answer. Homework is via WebAssign otherwise I would have asked the Prof to submit answers with slide-rule limited precision. One thing I am terrible at with respect to SRs is multiplying and dividing a series of numbers - always end up screwing up a gradation reading or using the wrong scale mid-way through and it is going to take a lot of practice to get better at that.
For tests, 90% is P&P and TI for whatever high-precision numerical answers there might be (not many) - slide rule would be a distraction in class- which is too bad because slide rules are fast for exponential functions.
Back on track
For homework, I solve everything pencil & paper and then if a numerical answer is required (note: we're talking calculus so majority of problems either don't have numerical answers or the numerical answer is tertiary to the calculus/algebraic manipulation so the final answer is something ridiculously simple and doesn't require calculation) I use a Ti-30 if the numerical answers require precision > 2 places (which is most of the time if I've got to calculate an answer) or slide rule if it doesn't and then use the other to check the answer. Homework is via WebAssign otherwise I would have asked the Prof to submit answers with slide-rule limited precision. One thing I am terrible at with respect to SRs is multiplying and dividing a series of numbers - always end up screwing up a gradation reading or using the wrong scale mid-way through and it is going to take a lot of practice to get better at that.
For tests, 90% is P&P and TI for whatever high-precision numerical answers there might be (not many) - slide rule would be a distraction in class- which is too bad because slide rules are fast for exponential functions.
Back on track
Title reflects the fact that slide rules are just part of a the whole range of paleotechnologies which are dead or dying because of progress and rational laziness. Film is an example of a current technology that is rapidly becoming a paleotechnology and will be one once the current generation of Filmmakers who still use Film are replaced by the kids in USC Film School who will likely shoot 100% or 99% on digital. Examples of other paleotechnologies (that I happen to be interested in) include the printing press, typewriter, steam trains and chromolithography.
With respect specifically to slide rules - folks still don't get the connection between slide rules and math education
Here is a pertinent quote from the NPR slide rule thread:
From the Tufte thread:Edward Tufte forum: Analog clocks, sorobans, and slide rules
There's more of course - but the points are the same:
1. Visual display of the number line in an intuitive manner.
2. Necessity of tracking the decimal point
3. Necessity for error checking.
Calculators can't check for GIGO problems and the nature of calculators means that the user is not forced to check, with slide rules after a computation you have to run a quick sanity check on the result (usually done by rounding the numbers you've multiplied/divided/involuted/evoluted/etc and estimating).
I collect them and use one when I can, but if I had a couple of million I'd make a couple hundred new slide rules to my ideal scale design.
Computing Devices - Aristo Multilog Nr. 970 Simulator - Stefan Vorkoetter
A self-guided slide rule training course:
http://www.sliderulemuseum.com/SR_Course.htm
Background Videos on Slide Rules - The Very Basics.
1940's Instructional Video I Basics (Snooze time)
1940's Instructional Video II Proportions, Square and Square Roots (Coma time)
Modern Video: Log-Log Scales Briefly (Actually Interesting).
1940's Instructional Video II Proportions, Square and Square Roots (Coma time)
Modern Video: Log-Log Scales Briefly (Actually Interesting).
