Re: virus: math versus engineering

Eric Boyd (6ceb3@qlink.queensu.ca)
Tue, 16 Jun 1998 09:08:44 -0400


Hi,

"Chelstad, Erik" <chelste@data-io.com> asks:
> Why does a circle have 360 degrees?

I believe the original cause was a 360 calender. Now, the only thing
keeping such a silly system alive is the epidemology of memes... in other
words, it's a QWERTY thing!

>From a pure math standpoint, I think we should abolish degrees and just
teach radians, the "natural" angle measurement system. (radians are
natural in the same way that e=2.718281828[...] is the "natural"
exponential base. Strange universe we live in, eh?)

But then, from an engineering standpoint, nobody wants to work with
fractions of Pi... especially me!

ERiC