Computing Techniques for the Sampling Parametric Computer

This paper describes novel calculating techniques suitable for an electronic analog computer using exponential discharges to simulate the logarithmic scales of the slide rule. Among others, the device can perform the following operations: z = xy; z = x/y; z = xya; loga x; az; and evaluate such series as y = Axa + Bxb +Cxc+ ... where the exponents can be fractional and z, x, and y can be time variables. The problems can be solved explicitly or implicitly; thus in the above series y (or x) can be determined with equal ease if x (or y) are given. The Appendix describes an actual computer which gave accuracies of 1 to 2 per cent of full range from 0 to 95 per cent of full range and 4 per cent from 95 to 100 per cent of full range without recalibration for different groups of problems. The accuracy can be increased by calibrating the device for a specific group of problems.