Back to Discipline
Existence 2
0% Complete
0/13 Steps
-
MathematicalCoordinate systems
-
HistoricalRené Discartes
-
MathematicalMultiplication & algebra
-
Powers & exponents
-
TechnicalShape1 Task
-
MathematicalNatural constants & pi
-
Geometry1 Task
-
The radian unit
-
Signs & negative numbers
-
Curvature1 Task
-
HistoricalCarl Friedrich Gauss
-
TechnicalCurvature conservation1 Task
-
EndingSummary of the Existence discipline
Participants10
Switch language
Mathematical skill ●●●○○
To measure how long the Roman Colosseum is around (circumference), the archaeologist can choose to walk all the way around it with a measuring wheel. Or she could just measure the distance across (diameter) and use the formula:1
\text{circumference}=\pi\;\text{diameter}
In fact, she could do it even more quickly by simply measuring the distance to the centre (radius), since two of those distances give the diameter:
\text{circumference}=\pi \;\overbrace{2\;\text{radius}}^\text{diameter}
So the circumference (the full round) is ‘\pi-times-the-diameter long’ or in other words ‘\pi diameters long’2 or ‘2\pi radiuses long’.3
Subscribe to valuable engineering skills for your resume or CV
Try full access with a 7-day free trial on all subscriptions.
Already subscribing? Log in:
References:
- ‘Sears and Zemansky’s Univesity Physics with Modern Physics’ (book), Hugh D. Young & Roger A. Freedman, Pearson Education, 13th ed., 2012
- ‘Online Etymology Dictionary’ (dictionary), Douglas Harper, www.etymonline.com