h a l f b a k e r yI like this idea, only I think it should be run by the government.
add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random
news, help, about, links, report a problem
browse anonymously,
or get an account
and write.
register,
|
|
|
So, I was looking at an abacus one day, and I thought: What if you had a rotary abacus? Like the sticks with the beads rotate around a pivot. Maybe the central, stationary part has its own beads. Or something like that
I don't even know what the implications or possible uses would be of this, I just
know it's a new idea, and there are some uses that would probably be obvious.
Dicuss
Curta
http://www.vcalc.net/cu.htm
[MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 04 2012]
[link]
|
| |
A bit like a Curta calculator (link). |
|
| |
It's essentially a floating-point abacus. |
|
| |
Good for teaching circular reasoning. |
|
| |
I would buy one, even though I can't do math. |
|
| |
Rotary abacus is a bad title, I think what Edwin means is a 3D abacus of variable geometry. |
|
| |
and can someone explain to me why a Curta costs $1500? |
|
| |
Probably because they are more complex and far
prettier than a Rolex and haven't been made for
several decades. |
|
| |
I have a cylindrical slide rule at home. |
|
| |
Two words: Orrery Abacus... |
|
| |
If the beads get stuck, then it's an ornery abacus. |
|
| |
If the beads get stuck, it's an ornery rotary orrery
abacus. |
|
| |
If the beads get stuck in the Lion's offensive tackle's backside, it would be an ornery rotary orrery Backus' back abacus. |
|
| |
Perhaps one should be figure-8 shaped, for teaching about infinity... |
|
| |
misread as "rosary abacus," part of the ancient chinese catholic accountant toolkit. |
|
| |
In the days of Kipling's Kim, pundits carried rosaries
that were covert calculating devices, to do land
surveying in regions forbidden to Europeans. |
|
| |
Misread this as discus.
Fetch fido! |
|
| |