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Log Tables

lostmyway

While I have a good idea how log tables work, I'm still in the dark as to how they are compiled.

I gather some bloke name 'Napier' originally invented them but what method did he use?

Any mathematicians' contributions would be appreciated. 

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    I had an LED TI30, a big wedge-shaped thing that ate batteries and had a glorious red display.  It didn't even need to do any calculations, it simply needed someone to enter the number 58008.618 to amuse everybody.  I think mine had eight digits (though it's been a long time) so the scope for humorous numbers was limited.

    I hadn't realised that a typewriter was originally a typewriter operator.  I feel a bit ashamed of that since I'm something of a keyboard afficionado, and also remember my grandfather's typewriter, which was this really bloody enormous immovable black cast iron thing on which he'd type stuff for the BBC.  It was actually fairly smelly and unpleasant to use, but fascinating nonetheless.  And a lot less unpleasant and scary than actual typesetting: mind your ps and qs, and all that.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    I had an LED TI30, a big wedge-shaped thing that ate batteries and had a glorious red display.  It didn't even need to do any calculations, it simply needed someone to enter the number 58008.618 to amuse everybody.  I think mine had eight digits (though it's been a long time) so the scope for humorous numbers was limited.

    I hadn't realised that a typewriter was originally a typewriter operator.  I feel a bit ashamed of that since I'm something of a keyboard afficionado, and also remember my grandfather's typewriter, which was this really bloody enormous immovable black cast iron thing on which he'd type stuff for the BBC.  It was actually fairly smelly and unpleasant to use, but fascinating nonetheless.  And a lot less unpleasant and scary than actual typesetting: mind your ps and qs, and all that.

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