Angles and their measure , 1/360 the part of one complete rotation is 1 degree. Why it is 360 only why not any other number ?
1/60 th part of 1 degree = 1 minute. Why it is 60 only why not 360.
2006-09-23 22:04:39 · 9 answers · asked by ? 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
The main theory going right now is that the ancients approximated 360 days in a year.
The reason it has survived is its usefulness
2006-09-23 22:11:07 · answer #1 · answered by John H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the Chaldeans or Babylonians thought 60 was a good number base (60=3*4*5). dividing a circle into 3600 parts (60^2)was likely not possible with their tools & instruments, so they had to settle for 360 (6*60). It could also have to do with the fact that out year is nearly 360 solar days. they also liked the number 24 (2*3*4) and decided that the solar day should be divided into 24 parts.
2006-09-23 22:23:05 · answer #2 · answered by Helmut 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is other numbers. 360 was the number of days that the ancients counted as one year. And, if the number of degrees in a full circle is 360, then 1/60 of a degree at the center of the Earth subtends (by definition) one Nautical Mile on the surface of the Earth.
But one full rotation is also 2π radians, another very useful measure of angular motion.
There's also a system that defines a right angle to be 100 grad. That makes a full revolution 400 grad.
Doug
2006-09-23 22:22:37 · answer #3 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the degrees of circles and the invention of time are 2 different things. if you really think about it 1/60 of 360 = 1 second.
2006-09-23 22:10:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the reason being comparable as why a min is 60 sec and an hour is 60 min. actual it is on the subject of angles too! The minute hand in nicely-known clocks (no longer digital, they weren't there that element) completes one roation after 3600 seconds.
2016-12-12 13:59:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the ancients used base 60 number system, so everything comes in multiples of 60. Just like today, we have the base 10 number system, so everything comes in multiples of 10.
2006-09-23 22:07:08 · answer #6 · answered by Stanley K 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because a circle has 360 degrees
2006-09-23 23:07:17 · answer #7 · answered by Lin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because there used to be 360 days in a year
2006-09-23 22:09:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
bcoz
1 rotation = 2 pi
360 deg = 2 pi
2006-09-24 02:35:49 · answer #9 · answered by Dhr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋