• SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    Not really. The first ones were quite expensive, and it was uncommon to have one on your person at all times like we now do with smartphones.

    • Rodeo
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      7 months ago

      Yes really, if your job requires lots of calculations you’d be stupid not to have one, even back when they were expensive.

      Every machinist I know, even the crusty old ones, carry a calculator in their pocket. It’s indispensable. Why wouldn’t you carry one if you need it all the time?

      • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        Pretty sure the teacher wasn’t assuming that every single child in class was going to be a machinist.

        In fact, most people aren’t machinists.

        • Rodeo
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          7 months ago

          And yet my point stands: if you need to do a lot of calculations at your job, you’d be stupid not to have a calculator in your pocket. And if you don’t, then the time it takes to find a calculator will be negligible.

            • Rodeo
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              7 months ago

              Uh what, that’s literally the point lol. The “you won’t have a calculator” has been complete and utter bullshit for literally over half a century.

              • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
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                7 months ago

                Bro, smartphones haven’t even existed for 20 years

                You’re talking as if everybody was carrying around pocket calculators the day they were invented

                • Rodeo
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                  7 months ago

                  No actually I literally specified people whose jobs require doing a lot of calculations lmao

                  If your job required lots of calculations, and you heard about this fancy new thing called a pocket calculator, wouldn’t you go out and buy one?

                  • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
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                    7 months ago

                    Of course. But, again, that’s not everyone. Not everyone went out and bought pocket calculators and carried them around everywhere.