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Oughtred's slide rule is two mated Gunter scales.

A man named Gunter devised the Gunter scale. It is like a ruler, except that the divisions represent the values associated with logarithms of the distances from the end. So on a ten inch long scale, the numbers would be at the following distances from the left end:

  1. at 0 inches
  2. at 3.01 inches
  3. at 4.77 inches
  4. at 6.02 inches
  5. at 6.99 inches
  6. at 7.78 inches
  7. at 8.45 inches
  8. at 9.03 inches
  9. at 9.54 inches
  10. at 10 inches

By using dividers, this ruler-like scale could be used for multiplication.

Oughtred realized that if a person had two Gunter scales, one with the graduation lines and numbering along the top edge, and the other with them along the bottom edge, they could be used to do math without need for dividers. They were held together by mitering one into the other, and so the slide rule was born.

We can multiply two numbers by adding their logarithms and finding what the result is the logarithm of. For example, we could put the 1 on the top scale at the point where 2 is on the bottom scale. If we then look where the 3 is on the top scale, we have added the distances marked 2 (3.01 inches from the end) and 3 (4.77 inches form the end), and found 6 (at a point 7.78 from the end). So 2 x 3 = 6.

The early slide rules were usually two feet long, and were used in British customs houses for calculating taxes on goods whose weights needed conversion. The original form of the slide rules was used as a part of tools until into the twentieth century. The simple slide rules were improved a number of times, most notably by a French army officer named Mannheim, who added a cursor during the 1870s, and his name is often used to describe the simplest type used in the twentieth century by engineers.

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Q: What is the Oughtreds slide rule?
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Where did the oughtred slide rule invented?

william oughtreds


When did Oughtred invent the slide rule?

William Ougthered invent Slide Rule in 1622!


When was the slide rule invented?

AnswerThe slide rule was invented by William Oughtred in 1625. AnswerWe do not know the precise year. A circular slide rule was invented by William Oughtred some time about 1620, and a design of a similar slide rule by Delamain was printed in about 1630. The straight slide rule seems to have been invented later, some time around 1650.


What has the author John Jesse Clark written?

John Jesse Clark has written: 'The slide rule and logarithmic tables, including a ten-place table of logarithms' -- subject(s): Logarithms, Slide-rule 'The slide rule' -- subject(s): Slide-rule


Does pi actually exist on a slide rule?

Yes, it is a point on the slide rule. It is exact and not a decimal number.


Who invented the slide rule in 1632?

The slide rule was invented by William Oughtred some time about 1620 or 1625.


What is the 7x7 rule?

the 7x7 rule means theres no more then 7 bullets on a slide and no more then 7 sentences on a slide


What has the author Stefan Rudolf written?

Stefan Rudolf has written: 'The modern slide rule' -- subject(s): Slide-rule


Who invented the slide rule?

The slide rule was invented during the period of 1620-1650 by William Oughtred, based on the earlier invention of the Gunter scale by Edmund Gunter. The original slide rule is said to have been circular, and come about 1620 or 1625. The straight slide rule is said to have been invented around 1650.


How discover the slide rule?

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What replaced the slide rule?

Slide rules were replaced by pocket calculators. This happened very suddenly as soon as the price of the calculator became comparable with the slide rule. The market for the slide rule dried up almost completely, in much of the world, in less than a year. Some specialty slide rules have survived, however.


What invention replaced the slide rule?

Slide rules were replaced by pocket calculators. This happened very suddenly as soon as the price of the calculator became comparable with the slide rule. The market for the slide rule dried up almost completely, in much of the world, in less than a year. Some specialty slide rules have survived, however.