Computation Rules and Logarithms with Tables and Other Useful Functions - Holman, Silas W

An excerpt the PREFACE: IT would probably be within safe limits to assert that one-half of the time expended in computations is wasted through the use of an excessive number of places of figures, and through failure to employ logarithms. This waste might be almost wholly avoided by following a few simple computation rules and practising slightly with logarithm tables. The loss from the use of superfluous figures will be appreciated when it is considered that in direct or logarithmic multiplication and division with four, five, and six places of figures the work is respectively in the ratio of 1:2:3, or perhaps more nearly 2:3:4. Thus contrary to the fallacious excuse so commonly given that it is just about as easy to use six. or seven place tables as smaller ones, the work is doubled or trebled by the use of six places instead of four. Even the employment of six. or seven place tables, and dropping superfluous places when four or five are desired, causes much loss of time....