Fowler's binary and ternary tables
About
the machine
Overview
Multiplicand
Multiplier
Product
Carry mechanism
Instructions for use
Video demonstration
Fowler's ternary calculating machine - the multiplicand
The multiplicand consists of a series of sliding rods, one for each
digit of the multiplicand. Each rod can be set by the user to one of
three positions, representing the three possible values for each digit
of a balanced ternary number.
For multiplication problems, the rods are not really an active part of the overall mechanism. They are more of a mnemonic device to guide the user through the rest of the calculation. When used for division, the quotient is read on these rods.
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