Old Math
After he decided to retire, I saved this item from my father who is an economist and a mathematician. I was surprised that he still had this in his desk after all those years and surprised even even more that he didn't know how to use it any longer. Not because of some grave disease or condition, it was just so ancient technology that he no longer required the knowledge to use it in a day of laptop computers and pocket sized calculators.
2 responses
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Thad Zajdowicz said (3 Sep 2007):
My oh my -- brings back memories!
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Sayyed Bashir said (4 Sep 2007):
It is a slide rule. Before calculators, the slide rule was used in the 60s and 70s to perform all mathematical functions very accurately and fast. It came with detailed instructions on how to use it. It was expensive at that time because of the engraving and precision slide mechanisms.
