2006-08-08 13:32:03 · 24 answers · asked by THINKER 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The lunar landings came first - on their return the astronauts needed something to work out exaxctly how much of their life was shortened by their trip and lo and behold the pocket calculator was invented by nasa to do so in 1969.
Interestingly pockets weren't invented until later - in 1992 the English Earl of Pochet needed somewhere to hide some blow from the police and asked his tailor to add a flap of cloth to his jacket.........
2006-08-08 13:39:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well if you consider an abacus small enough, I suppose you could count that as being the smallest "pocket calculator"... also, slide rules existed in the 60s, some of which could fit in a person's pocket. But if you're talking about digital electronic calculators, I don't think those were widely available in the late 60s to early 70s. But the HP-35 calculator was invented in 1972, and the last moon landing was in December of the same year, so maybe the pocket calculator WAS the first! But keep in mind, although other calculators were invented before this time, none of them could replace the slide rule until the HP-35 came along.
2006-08-08 13:35:53 · answer #2 · answered by figaro1912 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first pocket calculator widely available came out in 1972 and the first Lunar Landing was in 1969 so the Lunar Landings came first!
2006-08-08 23:34:19 · answer #3 · answered by revolutionman1379 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The computer on-board Apollo 11 had less computing power then a modern digital watch and was little more than a calculator. However
pocket calculators were not available to the public until the early 70s, so I would have to say the moon landings.
2006-08-09 21:53:46 · answer #4 · answered by greebo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmmm, technically no, as the pocket calculators were introduced at around the same time as the later moon landings in the 70's. Also you would need a big pocket as the calculator was massive.
But the computer power of the Apollo landers was no better than a pocket calculator and computers where definitely invented before the moon landings, so in that case yes!
2006-08-09 01:51:09 · answer #5 · answered by Mike W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pocket calculator came 1st, due to the 2 ww(Blectley park computors) The lunar landing had brainpower of a calculator, it was Armstrong + the other 2 whom made the eipic jounary.
2006-08-08 15:10:30 · answer #6 · answered by CLIVE C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pocket calculator predates the lunar landings by about 300 years. Mechanical devices able to add and subtract date to about the middle of the 17th century. Look up "Pascaline."
Slide rules are also pocket calculators, and the first ones date to about the 1780s.
Sorry, the abacus is not a calculating device. It is a memory aid for use in doing addition and subtraction in your head.
2006-08-08 14:52:44 · answer #7 · answered by aviophage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both at same time. Whilst scientists were trying to discover a cure for the bush-and-blair lying disease, they accidently worked out how to make lunar landings and put numbers into their own spacecraft above the planet Moggydog, therefore they both came at the same time. Closely followed by the egg, the Chicken and The Hitch-hikers guide to the Galaxy. Can I have 10 points now?
2006-08-09 03:17:55 · answer #8 · answered by gr_bateman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They both were very close to the same time, but I think Apollo 11 was a year or two before the first pocket calculator. Maybe not so creative, but I have a source.
2006-08-08 15:59:03 · answer #9 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pocket calculator technology came directly from the space program.... at the time of Apollo 11 a machine that could do what a pocket calculator can do now would not even fit on a desk top.
2006-08-08 13:37:23 · answer #10 · answered by eggman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋