Why did they choose 360?
2007-05-23 08:33:07 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
The Babylonian sexagesimal counting system (base-60) is what led them to choose to define:
(a) 360 degrees in a circle
(b) 60 minutes in a degree
(c) 60 seconds in a minute
and to divide the circular clockface of 1 hour up, similarly, into
(d) 60 minutes in an hour
(e) 60 seconds in a minute
The Egyptians and the Greeks liked and adopted the Babylonian system, and it became an international standard and it is now too ingrained in our thinking to want to change it.
2007-05-23 08:57:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that it was the ancient Babylonians or Sumerians that did this.
Their calender had 360 days in it (the other five were for the New Years holiday and didn't count as part of the year).
If you think of a year as a "circle" of time, then it makes sense.
2007-05-23 08:46:55 · answer #2 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is one complete revolution around something.
2007-05-23 08:43:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋