2 ms·
This is basically how division on slide rules works. "If we want to calculate a/b we can also calculate it as a * (1/b); that is the division of two numbers is
by aristus 3y ago
This is basically how division on slide rules works.
"If we want to calculate a/b we can also calculate it as a * (1/b); that is the division of two numbers is the equivalent of the first number multiplied by its reciprocal."
http://www.sliderules.info/a-to-z/mul-div.htm http://www.sliderules.info/a-to-z/mul-div.htm
- colanderman 3y agoMultiplication by the reciprocal isn't the interesting part. Computing the reciprocal using a convergent series is. (Which is not a process that is useful or even feasible on a slide rule, owing to the addition steps required, and the fact that slide rules can trivially perform division as you point out.)
- aristus 3y agoAh, I see what you mean. Still, though, how is this that different from a slide rule + log table? e is the limit of a convergent series too.
- colanderman 3y agoNo log table lookups are required for this algorithm.