What was the original use of the slide rule invented by Oughtred?
Measuring distances
Multiplication and division
Drawing circles
Calculating velocities
Answer
Multiplication and division calculations were simplified with the slide rule, a mechanical analog computer. Introduced by William Oughtred around the 1620s, it consists of a fixed and a sliding logarithmic scale. By aligning markings on both scales, multiplication and division operations can be performed by adding and subtracting lengths, respectively.
Mastering Math with Oughtred: Deciphering the Life and Legacy of a Mathematical Virtuoso
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