But would it surprise you that you can make an analog device like a slide rule using a Wheatstone bridge ... will be the same as if it were one resistor of equal value. That is, a 1 KΩ ...

Pictured is a Wheatstone bridge with a strain gauge as R4. Stretching a strain gauge causes a change in its resistance, hence a strain gauge is a variable resistor. Either one, two or all four ...