How to theoretically calculate the floating state and stability of a complex floating body in differ

We might be about the same age. Your post prompted me to pull the largest of my three slide rules out of the bottom desk drawer and reflect on it's powerful simplicity. ;-) I recall competing in "Slide Rule Olympics" in the mid 70s.

 

And who doesn't remember tables of logarithms and how tedious calculations with them were? I have used them, as well as slide rules, and, to be honest, they don't inspire nostalgia in me. They were real instruments of torture. (Imo)

 

A lifetime ago I was running a survey crew and one of the workers was an exchange student working on his doctorate in math. I started leaving my book of log and trig tables in the vehicle. I could ask him for a value and he'd stare off into space for a few moments and come back with 3 or 4 significant digits and was always correct.

 

You worked with rainman