International projectionist (July-Dec 1934)

INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST July 1934 particular tool, and unless the projectionist possesses one with which to experiment, there is little point in studying the device in detail other than to glean a general knowledge of what may be done with it. Those particularly interested in it are referred to the December, 1933, issue of International Projectionist. Algebraic Equations The fundamental difference between algebra and arithmetic is that in algebra we deal with letters, while in arithmetic we deal exclusively with numbers. In algebra, the letters with which we deal may represent either whole numbers, fractions, or decimals, and the various arithmetic operations are performed upon these letters rather than upon the numbers they represent. Although the following problem is of the simplest type, it will illustrate the method by which an algebraic problem is solved: If we have a series resistance circuit, made up of two resistances, of which we wish to know the total resistance, we would let "X" equal the total resistance of the circuit. The resistance of one arm, which we know to be 7 ohms, we would set equal to "R", (thus, whereever the letter R appeared, it would have a value of 7) ; and to the other portion of the circuit, having a resistance of 12 ohms, we would assign the letter "S". Thus we have the rudiments of an algebraic equation in its simplest form: X=R+S, in which the total resistance is equal to the sum of the resistance of each part. X=7+12 = 19 ohms The use of algebra to solve such a simple problem is, of course, unnecessary, but in many cases the solution will lend itself to algebraic methods where ordinary arithmetical means would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. Algebraic symbols may be added, subtracted, divided, multiplied, and raised to any power, or any root may be extracted therefrom. In many cases, the arithmetic operation may be only indicated, inasmuch as we may not add a to b to obtain any other expression than "a + b" any more than we may add two screens to three apples to obtain anything other than two screens and three apples. However, we may add "b" to "2b" to obtain "3b" just as we may add 2 screens to 5 screens to obtain 7 screens. In the expression 3b above, the number 3 is known as the coefficient of b, for the reason that b in the expression is taken three times. Similarly, if we have the expression "rb", the "r" is the coefficient of b, meaning that in that particular case the b is taken "r" times. A coefficient may be a whole number (27b) ; a series of letters (xrb) ; a common fraction (-^b), or a decimal frac 1 Z 3 4-56 769 1 MINI 1 1 1 1 1 1.1 + 1 2 3 4 5 b 78 9 Conventional slide rule tion such as .87b. It is common algebraic practice, if no coefficient is expressed, to assume a coefficient of 1. As previously stated, algebraic symbols may be either added, subtracted, multiplied, divided, raised to a power, or have a root extracted. However, in an algebraic problem, a certain order of procedure has been specified which if not followed will give an incorrect result. In other words, if we have a long problem in which division, addition, subtraction, etc., are indicated, in order to obtain the correct result we must first go through the problem and do all of the indicated raising to powers and extraction of roots; then all of the multiplication and division, and, finally, all of the addition and subtraction. To illustrate, we will go through a problem in which some of these opera tions are to be performed, such as: 7+2x3+82— \/4+6^3= Following out our order of procedure which says that we must first perform all raising of powers and extraction of roots, we will square the 8 and extract the square root of 4, after which our problem becomes: 7 + 2 x 3+64— 2+6-h3 = Next completing the indicated multiplication and division, we obtain 7 + 6 + 64—2+2 = Which gives us an answer of 77, after the addition and subtraction have been made. Parentheses are often used in algebra to indicate that the operations are not performed in the usual sequence — the rule in this case being to perform all of the operations within the parentheses first, then to follow the correct sequence from that point on. In other words, if we have an expression such as: 5x9+4(3 + 22) Alliance Takes Over Local 306 For Second Time Within Two Years; Harry Sherman Resigns CONTROL of Local Union 306 (N. Y. City) has been taken over by the International Alliance for the second time within two years. All Local officers will retain their posts, with the exception of Harry Sherman, who resigned (23) to "enable the I. A. to exercise a free hand". H. Holmden, B. A. of Cleveland Local 160, is temporarily in charge of 306. The I. A. last took over the affairs of Local 306 in November, 1932, and at the same time removed 20 officers of the Local, following an exhaustive investigation of 306 matters by the General Executive Board. Immediately thereafter Sam Kaplan, deposed president, began a series of court actions to test the right of the I. A. to remove him, which only recently produced a verdict favorable to the latter. Subsequently Kaplan was convicted of coercion against 306 members and is now in the penitentiary serving a sixmonth-to-three-year sentence for this offense. The attitude of the present 306 officials is one of cooperation with the I. A., and no trouble is expected. The troubles which beset Local 306 include a continuation of the internal strife among its 1,800 members, which movement is said to have its center in the so-called Kaplan faction; a bitter battle by 306 against two other projectionists' union (Empire and Allied, the latter having been adjudged a "company union") ; severe unemployment; the continuing offensive against the Union by the theatre owners (I.T.O.A., which comprises virtually all the inde pendent owners in the city), and last but by no means least, the manifest impotency of the NRA to enforce the provisions of the motion picture code labor sections, New York exhibitors being permitted to do any and everything they please, including firing men and cutting salaries and manpower, despite a series of Regional Labor Board and N. Y. Supreme Court decisions against them. NRA Impotency Demonstrated In New York City, which offers employment to about 1,900 projectionists, there are more than 5,500 licenses currently in effect, not a few of which are held by I. B. E. W. members. Having 1,200 members in the summer of 1933, Local 306 was induced to take in some 600 "permit men" by Edward F. McGrady, then representing the A. F. of L. and now Assistant Secretary of Labor, who promised that the NRA code would "take care of manpower problems." It didn't; but on the contrary permitted labor practices by exhibitors which contributed to the 306 manpower worries. Nowhere in the country was the impotence of the NRA compliance machinery more graphically shown than in New York City, where three distinct mobs of pickets have been roaming the streets for about a year. The I. A. has not announced its policy with respect to 306, but for the present all meetings have been discontinued and President Browne is not saying when he will restore local autonomy.