Slide Rule Scale Markings

The table below consists of a list of some of the conventional symbols for scales on standard
slide rules.
Conventional Mathematical Descripiton
Symbol Relationship
A x
2
square of D
AI 1/x
2
reciprocal of square of D
B x
2
square of D (on slide)
BI 1/x
2
reciprocal of square of D (on slide)
C x principal scale (on slide)
CF x folded principle (on slide)
CI 1/x reciprocal of principal (on slide)
CIF 1/x reciprocal of folded principal (on slide)
D x principal scale
DF x folded principal
DI 1/x reciprocal of principal
DIF 1/x reciprocal of folded principal
K x
3
cube of D
L log
10
x common logarithm of D
LL0 e
0.001x
exponent of x.10
3
LLI e
0.01x
exponent of x.10
2
LL2 e
0.1x
exponent of x.10
1
LL3 e
x
exponent of x
LL00 e
0.001x
exponent of x.10
3
LL01 e
0.01x
exponent of x.10
3
LL02 e
0.1x
exponent of x.10
2
LL03 e
x
exponent of x
P
s
or P

1 x
2
cosine of sin
1
D
P
t

1 x
2
tangent of cos
1
1/D
S sin
1
x D is the sine of angle S
ST
180x

D radians in degrees
Sinh 1 sinh
1
x hyperdolic sine of Sin 1 is D between 0.1 and 1
Sinh 2 sinh
1
x hyperdolic sine of Sin 1 is D between 1 and 10
T tan
1
x D is the sangent of angle T
Tanh tanh
1
x D is hyperbolic tangent of Tanh
c Chris Sangwin 1999