Amedee Mannheim

"How do you solve this math problem?", the high schooler asked.

"Err...", we looked at the homework. "Logarithms. You have to use logarithms."

"What are logarithms?"

Oh boy. What followed was a painful plunge into the depths of our mathematical knowledge that somehow pulled out a (somewhat) coherent explanation.

"So how do you calculate logarithms?"

"Well, you can find a website that will have a logarithmic calculator..."

"How did you do it before websites?"

"You can use a scientific calculator, only it's not that simple, you need to..."

"What about before calculators?"

"Ummm..." Then we remembered. "Slide rule!"

"What the hell is a slide rule?"

This, kids, is a slide rule.

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