Although I haven't seen them used on the show, can the contestants use calculators? Can they consult engineering books for formulas or material constants, or are they restricted to what knowledge they carry in their brains?

-- Brian Beard (lucid@cs.net), December 14, 2000

Answers

I have definitly seen both calculators and books used.

-- Bill M. (bmertz@cats.ucsc.edu), December 14, 2000.

Yes, calculators, computers, and books are allowed on-set.

We would usually bring a couple of calculators, a CRC "Handbook of Chemistry and Physics", and a couple other refs (like a Pocket Ref").

You can also bring your own tools; I brought a Leatherman and a Swiss Army Knife, and a small voltmeter. DARN handy, too!

-Crash

-- Bill Yerazunis (Captain of the Nerds) (wsy@merl.com), December 18, 2000.