4 ms·
Yes, they are imprecise. In general, you're limited to just three, maybe four digits regardless of the actual magnitude of the numbers and you have to keep the
by sizzzzlerz 8y ago
Yes, they are imprecise. In general, you're limited to just three, maybe four digits regardless of the actual magnitude of the numbers and you have to keep the powers of ten in your head. Honestly, though, once you've used it enough, it isn't that hard to do. Besides, in most calculations, you don't need precision out to the 12th digit. After all, skyscrapers, bridges, and ocean liners have been built using slide rules for a long time and they, mostly, have worked just fine.
- dreamcompiler 8y agoImprecision is fine for engineering and can be compensated for. But this is not true for managing money, which is why floating point has historically not been used in accounting applications.
- sizzzzlerz 8y agoYeah, bean counters do like to know their amounts out to the penny. That would require a pretty big slide rule.