The Big Slide Thread

Mike Ginn · Dec 4, 2024

Agreed - my point was that with a slide rule you must estimate but with a calculator less so but it is still a good idea to estimating where you should be on the number line.

ShopShoe · Dec 5, 2024

As Mike (above) said:

"...but it is still a good idea to estimating where you should be on the number line."

The seemingly endless repetition and practice problems from my math instructors all the way from early grades through college actually was useful in making the estimation part of problem-solving almost automatic. In retrospect, it was NOT busywork.

From my high-school physics teacher, who also taught the advanced math classes, I also learned to always put the units in along with the numbers, so you can make sure your doing the arithmetic to the right things in the process. In addition the much-hated instruction to "Show Your Work" is a good thing as well, so you can see where you went wrong. My grandkids only grudgingly wanted me to help with math homework because of the busywork aspects they didn't like, but usually ended up with "NOW I get it" after working that way for a short time.

My two cents.....

--ShopShoe

Richard Hed · Dec 5, 2024

Steamchick said:
I used slide rules when I was about 9. Th Teacher asked me how I was doing the sums in class as I was quicker with the answers than I should be. When I showed him a slide rule, he laughed and said it was for Grammar school!
I thought that was stupid.
When I got to grammar school and was about 12, we were taught logarithms. When I was a couple of years older, a teacher explained to me that using the slide rule wasn't as accurate as 4 digit logarithms, but was simply adding and subtracting logs along a mechanical scale..! Only then was I allowed to put in my homework "By slide-rule" when doing calculations to get answers.
Surely teaching YOUNGER kids to use such tools gives them a useful way to do "sums" - and teaches them relationships of calculations much better than simply crashing numbers on the black-board? (Black-boards and chalk are probably a health hazard nowadays too!).
I still use my slide rule in the garage - where my solar powered calculator doesn't work... Handy for working out lengths to angles for tapers, etc. (Quicker and more reliable than doing squares and roots in my head when doing Pythagoras' triangle sums).
Really it doesn't matter what dimensional yard-stick you use in the machine shop. If the engine fits well and runs - That's a great result!
But it is "Fun" for me at least to use "old-fashioned" tools and get good results. Not a crime, just a FASHION, and I applaud those who have chosen to use CNC etc. But mostly it is simply not necessary, IMHO.
Yet when I want music, I use a CD player or digital radio, instead of violin or piano, or singing! The results are MUCH better.
Just enjoy using all the tools and skills you have, and keep making lovely models.
K2

You could say the same for abacus' too. Don't forget that in modern methodology the schools teach to the SLOWEST student. What our schools don't seem to be able to address is the faster student's needs.

Richard Hed · Dec 5, 2024

ShopShoe said:
As Mike (above) said:

"...but it is still a good idea to estimating where you should be on the number line."

The seemingly endless repetition and practice problems from my math instructors all the way from early grades through college actually was useful in making the estimation part of problem-solving almost automatic. In retrospect, it was NOT busywork.

From my high-school physics teacher, who also taught the advanced math classes, I also learned to always put the units in along with the numbers, so you can make sure your doing the arithmetic to the right things in the process. In addition the much-hated instruction to "Show Your Work" is a good thing as well, so you can see where you went wrong. My grandkids only grudgingly wanted me to help with math homework because of the busywork aspects they didn't like, but usually ended up with "NOW I get it" after working that way for a short time.

My two cents.....

--ShopShoe

Yes, yes and yes. I have my students estimate, estimate estimate and put the units in and keep track of them properly

SmithDoor · Dec 5, 2024

Steamchick said:
I used slide rules when I was about 9. Th Teacher asked me how I was doing the sums in class as I was quicker with the answers than I should be. When I showed him a slide rule, he laughed and said it was for Grammar school!
I thought that was stupid.
When I got to grammar school and was about 12, we were taught logarithms. When I was a couple of years older, a teacher explained to me that using the slide rule wasn't as accurate as 4 digit logarithms, but was simply adding and subtracting logs along a mechanical scale..! Only then was I allowed to put in my homework "By slide-rule" when doing calculations to get answers.
Surely teaching YOUNGER kids to use such tools gives them a useful way to do "sums" - and teaches them relationships of calculations much better than simply crashing numbers on the black-board? (Black-boards and chalk are probably a health hazard nowadays too!).
I still use my slide rule in the garage - where my solar powered calculator doesn't work... Handy for working out lengths to angles for tapers, etc. (Quicker and more reliable than doing squares and roots in my head when doing Pythagoras' triangle sums).
Really it doesn't matter what dimensional yard-stick you use in the machine shop. If the engine fits well and runs - That's a great result!
But it is "Fun" for me at least to use "old-fashioned" tools and get good results. Not a crime, just a FASHION, and I applaud those who have chosen to use CNC etc. But mostly it is simply not necessary, IMHO.
Yet when I want music, I use a CD player or digital radio, instead of violin or piano, or singing! The results are MUCH better.
Just enjoy using all the tools and skills you have, and keep making lovely models.
K2

Before I was in high-school I was using the slide rule drafting basically model aircraft and model engine and parts for engines.

Most time I use C & D part of sliderule. I also for logarithms too.
It was nice to have pi on the sliderule.

I also for Navigation too.
The E6B was lot better for headings and ground speed with a cross wind.
Dead Reckoning Ilike the sliderule.
I did remember a photo of a 12 foot slide rule the Navy had that was for 4 or 5 digit. It had hand crank for fine adjustment the photo was dated 1941. I seen a lot classroom but they only for 3 digit.

Amost everything built BEFORE 1970’s use a sliderule

Dave