napiers bonesNapier's Bones Napero's sticks were described in a work published in 1617. They consist of ten rods numbered at the top from 0 to 9 and another rod called a ruler. This is my 3D printed version.

 

 

napiers bones 01

 To carry out, for example, the multiplication between 10 and 5, sticks 1, and 0 are placed alongside the ruler.

You then choose the line corresponding to the number 5 on the ruler. To find the result, add diagonally, possibly with a carry; in our case we have the 0 alone (right), then the 5 and the zero (center) and finally another 0 (left). The result, therefore, will be 50.

 

 

Now let's do an operation with the carry. Multiplication between 9 and 815napiers bones 02

Let's take the row of 9, write 7 - 2+0 - 9+4 - 5 

                                              7  -  2  - 13  -  5  

                                                             <- carryover

                                               7  -  3  -   3  -  5  the carryover (1) is added to 2    

 

Wikipedia Napier's Bones