Square root of 2 on the pepper grinder

This is a demonstration of square root calculation by the odd numbers subtraction method on the Curta type II mechanical calculator a.k.a. the Fatboy Pepper Grinder. It's a bit fatter than the ordinary version so it can grind larger numbers and/or with greater precision.

The elegance of the odd number method is that no greater thinking is involved - you just follow a basic set of rules. I'm not explaining the rules thoroughly but you can read about them in this document:
www.mechrech.info/anleit/GibBru.pdf
(not on my server so don't know how long it'll be there - EDIT: NO LONGER THERE: LOOK AT END FOR INFO).
Please note that the starting point is different for numbers with even and odd number before the decimal! Also special attention is needed if the number is smaller than one.

Yes, granted, I can do it a lot faster on my Odhner's since I'm used to those. Also they have a bell to tell when result register crosses zero which is also a great help but the Curta doesn't have such a bell. Also well as having a feeling for how fast I can crank the Odhner's without excessive wear. The Curta in contrast is a delicate instrument build almost like a fine clock work.

- - - - - - - - - - EDIT: - - - - - - - - - -
The Brunsviga manual with description of how to extract square roots using the odd numbers method appears no longer on the original server. If you want it you can instead drop me a PM with your email and I'd be happy to email it to you.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Curta
• mechanical
• calculator
• type
• II
• pepper
• grinder
• fatboy
• square
• root
• math
• grenade
• coffee
• mill

[Savak22]

Your voice is about as creepy as it gets.

[HifiCentret]

@Savak22 Sure. And it'll gonna haunt you so watch out for nightmares! ;D

[smartiesandwich]

what exactly IS the odd number method for calculating square roots and how do you use it?

[HifiCentret]

@smartiesandwich By the odd numbers method you subtract the odd numbers. Take the number 49. Substract 1 then 3 then 5, 7, 9, 11 and finally 13 to reach zero. A total of 7 subtractions which means sqrt(49)=7. Of course things complicate a little when it's not a perfect square but principle is the same and you continue until desired precision or capacity of equipment. By shifting the carriage you don't have to do zillions of subtractions for a large number.

[xRoCKuSx]

So it doesn't grind pepper?....

[HifiCentret]

@xRoCKuSx No I wouldn't recommend that ;D

[HamburgerExplosion]

OOOOPS, it went UNNDAAA

[greenbean203]

i came here thinking i was gonna check out a salt & pepper grinder, took me 1:20 to realize this aint no pepper shaker. #dummyonweed

[AmbientOfMind]

What an absurdley complicated device...

Triggers my ASMR though :)

[silviaman99]

holy shit am I glad these went digital

[NT2k6]

Bravo! An excellent video that artfully mixed the informative with the quirky and (oddly enough) slightly relaxing.

[idiotzrule]

@HifiCentret I never knew that.

[ocurro]

qué miedo su vooz

[iMPRE7ed]

Really nice, man :)) Where did you get that fuckin awesome device))

[MagikGimp]

I fucking hate maths. Fuck you maths.