> I made a bamboo slide rule for my dad last christmas, figured it was
> fair as I have his one at my apartment. Still gotta learn how to use 
> it
> though.

Do it. takes about zero time to get the basics. Some advanced stuff 
takes more effort or is easily forgotten. Being able to do simple 
multiplication and division with pieces of wood or plastic gives 
increased appreciation of the shoulders we are standing on.

The slide rule works by adding lengths of rule which are proportional 
to the logarithms of the numbers being multiplied and reading off the 
number whose logarithm is proportional to the resultant length. Far 
easier to do than to explain.

Once you master that you can progress to measuring the heights of 
doorways by dropping a coin and timing how long it takes to fall :-). 
(Averaging 10 attempts produces almost usable accuracy).


        RM 

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