[quietolong]

I feel the one of the reasons for the decline in math. Is the ending of teaching and use of slide rules in our schools.

The use of a slide rule give a “ feel “ of the numbers. You had to keep track of your numbers. And if you came out with an answer that seemed way out of the ball park. You went back and checked your work. With today’s kids and calculator. It’s Garbage In Garbage Out. “ It must be right that’s what the display says.” Who cares if 2+2= -32.49834098493

One other skill the use of a slide rule teaches is Interpolate. Estimating the value between the marks. A skill that comes in handy in a number of different areas.

I still like to use a slide rule for doing some problems. It gives you a range of answers at a time. And is faster and easier than pushing buttons. And as a pilot the old circular in still better and faster to use.

Back in the old days slide rules put a man on the moon, landed on Mars. Today’s wizz kids with supercomputers, laptops and calculators. Missed Mars.

Kids today when I show them what a slide rule is. Are just amazed that by sliding a bar. I can come up with the answers.

Now before you think I’m just old fashion. Back in 73 I was one of the first kids in school with a handheld calculator. A TI model. But still took the old slip stick to class ( never on a belt I wasn’t that nerdey) And I would race the other kids with calculators. And I would beat them every time ( you can slide the slide faster that you can push buttons ) And one more thing My first Slide Rule which was handed down to me by my dad. Still works. And I have handed it down to my kids. My first calculator craped out years ago.

[fnord]

trip down memory lane

if I could find one of my old sticks, I would (sad to say) have to work a while to remember how to use it ...

[defeat_the_dem_igods]

You're not a slide"rules" aficionado unless you can do polar-rectangular conversion (while minimizing slide movement).

[larryjohnson]

I have a Pickett, U.S.Air Force Aeril Photo Slide Rule Type A-2. I have a
Frederick Post Co No.1447 Sun,Japan,FL(?) oth only 40 yrs old. Does this sound like e-bay?

[SamAdams76]

Growing up, my father worked at the airport and got to know a lot of pilots. During one of my visits there, one of his friends gave me a "pilot's slide rule" similar to the one above. I had fun with that for hours.

For me, calculators took most of the fun out of math. I used to like to figure things out for myself.

[ovrtaxt]

Maybe you were a whiz in math, but your english is another story.

It's 'crapped', not 'craped'.

In home economics, we made 'crapes'. ;)

[Lazamataz]

I feel the one of the reasons for the decline in math. Is the ending of teaching and use of slide rules in our schools.

I feel the one of the reasons for the increase in sentence fragments. Is the lack of education in the English language.

[rockfish59]

Interesting!

Never did learn how to use one.
I remember having a circular one in an old leather case.

[JoeSchem]

Kids today when I show them what a slide rule is. Are just amazed that by sliding a bar. I can come up with the answers.

I was tutoring these two kids who would just not learn math. Then I showed them a slide rule I picked up from a thrift store. Math teachers are missing a terrific prop!

[Old Professer]

I can't get over the image of a hippy couple wearing suspenders sitting down to dinner with a number of freeloading coyotes and a family of rehabilitated owls -- all I see are feathers, legs and snapping galluses.

[js1138]

You had to keep track of your numbers. And if you came out with an answer that seemed

In part because you had to place the decimal point.

[pttttt]

If you actually want to get one (or more), try Slide Rule Universe.

Disclaimer: No endorsement intended or implied. But their website has pretty pictures.

[cinFLA]

I won't dismiss your comments but I will say that the calculator made my day!

The problem is not with the tool but with the teaching.

[joanil]

We have one of those precision rules here, superb workmanship, a simple looking but quite complex fine piece of instrumentation. You are right, kids today have no concept of the rule let alone its uses in high technology. Sigh, if only it would help get my MS Win2K loaded PC to operate properly! Fat chance of that! I would have better luck building my own starship with my trusty old slide rule! I wonder if future ventures beyond the stars will carry a good old slide rule next to the captains chair as a 'backup' to the drive computer?