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Brad Morris wrote:
> The slide rule offers something that all the electronics in the world does 
not.  It is the Order of Magnitude of the problem.  That is, you are forced 
to estimate the answer in your head first and then stick the decimal point 
where it belongs.  Essentially, you solve the problem before hand and the 
only thing the slide rule does is to refine the decimal digits of accuracy.  
I remember that my college dorm room mate had some algorithm for 
determining where the decimal point went.  It involved as parameters..

the number of digits in the two operands
the operation  (multiplication or division)
and which end of the slide rule the center stuck out of (right or left)

Being to lazy to learn this trick, I just used my judgment. :-)

I have a Post bamboo slide rule with pastic overlays which seems in fine 
condition after 50 some years.



Mike


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