Anybody Use This?

[RedAngie]

A slide rule, that is? We used them for a while in high school trigonometry class. Handheld battery calculators with trigonometric functions were still very pricey back in the 70s.

I don’t remember how much the slide rule cost or even where my parents bought it. I also don’t remember how to use it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I never did! But it’s probably good to know how to use one! (You relic! )

 

[kanerf]

Sure, in high school. The HP calculator had just come out, but cost almost $1000, so we learned the slide rule. After all, they got us to the moon.

 

[JaxDad]

I never had to use them for school or work, but I do know how to use them. I’ve also used a circular slide rule.

 

[Meriweather]

I did in high school. DH did for many years. He has a 6' one hanging in his office now

 

[ronandannette]

View attachment 683208

A slide rule, that is? We used them for a while in high school trigonometry class. Handheld battery calculators with trigonometric functions were still very pricey back in the 70s.

I don’t remember how much the slide rule cost or even where my parents bought it. I also don’t remember how to use it.

No, but then again, I'm not one of the Flintstones, so...

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

I’ve never used one.

 

[Dan Murphy]

He has a 6' one hanging in his office now

 

[Dan Murphy]

I did not use one, did not do trig.

 

[_19disnA]

Slide rulers were commonly used before the days of affordable calculators. I doubt anyone would have a current need to use one partly because the price of calculators has become more affordable & readily available and offer many other calculation options.

 

[tvguy]

View attachment 683208

A slide rule, that is? We used them for a while in high school trigonometry class. Handheld battery calculators with trigonometric functions were still very pricey back in the 70s.

I don’t remember how much the slide rule cost or even where my parents bought it. I also don’t remember how to use it.

Yes. I learned to use one of those in High school (1971-1975). Only the Advanced Math class got to use calculators. Texas Instruments SR-10's. I talked my mom into buying one for me. $75 in 1975! These days, a calculator that almost does more is $1.98 at Walmart!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pen-Gear-8-Digit-Handheld-Calculator-White-Office/975047330?athbdg=L1200

Closest thing I can find today sells for under $14.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Texas-In...-Calculator-10-Digit-LCD/1535939?athbdg=L1600

 

[RedAngie]

No, but then again, I'm not one of the Flintstones, so...

Of course, the Flintstones would be astute enough to use an animal for such purposes.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

My dad hjad one and used it regularly. I ised to play with it whrn I was a kid. I wish I knew what happened to it.

 

[design_mom]

I never used one myself, but I have one. I think it belonged to my grandfather. I don't know how to use it though.

 

[Marionnette]

View attachment 683208

A slide rule, that is? We used them for a while in high school trigonometry class. Handheld battery calculators with trigonometric functions were still very pricey back in the 70s.

I don’t remember how much the slide rule cost or even where my parents bought it. I also don’t remember how to use it.

We used them in high school chemistry and physics. I got a good laugh when every scientist in the Apollo 13 movie pulled theirs out to make calculations. I never could do complex calculations using one. Simple multiplication and division was the most I could handle.

 

[sailorstitch]

My dad was an accountant. Earlier this year my mom found an old slide ruler of his. It's complete with the leather case and instructions book.

When I was a kid in to 80s, on one of our family trips to Walt Disney World my dad found a simplified Mickey slide ruler for kids. It had + and - on one side and × and ÷ on the other. He of course had to buy it for me. I still remember him showing me how to use it. I was so confused by the thing. I was mostly confused as to why you wouldn't just use a calculator. I still have it, but I don't know where it's packed away.

 

[Meriweather]

 

[Dan Murphy]

View attachment 683336

Once and engineer, always an engineer. He can use that for the big wood working projects at home.

 

[amcnj]

We had to use them in high school. Fortunately calculators made huge strides in price and function!

 

[Simba's Mom]

In college we were required to have a slide rule. I've kept mine for 49years since I graduated. It was an engineering college.