Mathematical calculator and method of using the same

Abstract

A mathematical calculator, and a method of using the same, is disclosed which can help people, particularly children, to easily learn and master multiplication operations. The mathematical calculator comprises a substantially cylindrical platform, and in accordance with a first embodiment, the multiplicands and multipliers are located within a plurality of columns and rows defined upon a plurality of adjacent wheels which are rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the platform, whereas in accordance with a second embodiment, the multiplicands and multipliers are located within a plurality of columns and rows which are defined upon a solid block.

What is claimed and sought to be protected by Letters Patent, is: 
     
         1 . A mathematical calculator, comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical platform having an external peripheral surface defined around a longitudinal axis;   a plurality of adjacent columns defined upon said substantially cylindrical platform, extending around said external peripheral surface of said platform, and having a plurality of numbers defined thereon; and   a plurality of rows extending across said substantially cylindrical platform so as to extend substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, and having a plurality of numbers defined thereon,   wherein a first column of said plurality of adjacent columns contains a plurality of multiplicands, while said plurality of rows contain a plurality of multipliers such that when it is desired to multiply a particular multiplicand by a particular multiplier, the correct answer to a multiplication problem whereby the multiplicand is multiplied by a particular multiplier, will be contained within the row corresponding to the multiplicand and upon the column distanced from the multiplicand by the number of the multiplier.   
     
     
         2 . The calculator as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said substantially cylindrical platform comprises a plurality of wheels which are rotatable around said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         3 . The calculator as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 a plurality of multiplicands are located upon a first one of said plurality of wheels, while a plurality of multipliers and answers to a multiplication problem, comprising the multiplication of a particular multiplicand by a particular multiplier, are located upon remaining ones of said plurality of wheels.   
     
     
         4 . The calculator as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said plurality of multiplicands and said plurality of multipliers are defined upon a plurality of steps or facets comprising each one of said plurality of rotatable wheels; and   a window structure, comprising a plurality of windows respectively associated with said plurality of columns, mounted upon substantially cylindrical platform, so as to enable one to view the answer to a multiplication problem when one of said plurality of wheels is rotated a predetermined number of times, corresponding to a predetermined number of steps or facets, such that the answer to said multiplication problem will be displayed within said window.   
     
     
         5 . The calculator as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein:
 when it is desired to solve a multiplication problem, a particular multiplicand, located upon said first one of said plurality of wheels, is selected, one moves across said plurality of rows until one reaches a wheel corresponding to a particular multiplier, whereupon rotation of said multiplier wheel a number of steps corresponding to said multiplicand, the answer to said multiplication problem will appear with said window, of said plurality of windows, corresponding to the multiplier wheel.   
     
     
         6 . The calculator as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said substantially cylindrical platform comprises a solid block defined around a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of parallel columns extending circumferentially around said solid block and a plurality of parallel rows extending longitudinally parallel to said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         7 . The calculator as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein:
 a plurality of multiplicands are located within a first one of said columns, while a plurality of multipliers and answers to a multiplication problem, comprising the multiplication of a particular multiplicand by a particular multiplier, are located upon remaining ones of said plurality of columns.   
     
     
         8 . The calculator as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said plurality of multiplicands and said plurality of multipliers are defined upon a plurality of steps or facets comprising each one of said plurality of columns and rows.   
     
     
         9 . The calculator as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 when it is desired to solve a multiplication problem, a particular multiplicand, located within a first one of said plurality of columns, is selected, and then one moves across said plurality of rows until one reaches a column corresponding to a particular multiplier, whereupon the answer to said multiplication problem will appear upon said particular facet of said multiplier column.