Slide Rules

Handheld analog calculating instruments that use logarithmic scales for multiplication, division, and related computations.

Articles with this tag: 2 Updated: August 23, 2026

Articles with this tag

Logarithmic scale A logarithmic scale maps quantities to their logarithm so wide-ranging values become manageable; used for sound, earthquakes, pH, light, and many scientific charts and instruments.

Slide rule (slipstick): an analog calculator for scientific use Slide rule Overview of the slide rule, its parts and scales, historical origins, typical uses in science and engineering, and why it was superseded by electronic calculators.