Re: cubits

William T. Yates (wtyates@vcnet.com)
Sat, 31 Aug 1996 15:20:22 -0800

Juli Kuhl wrote:
>
> you wrote that "a round basin 30 cubits around and 10 across...
> should be 31.41592635389793238... cubits"
>
> maybe there's another way of looking at this: 30 cubits around
> could be the *perimeter* and 10 across could be the distance
> of the two widest points of the circle, no? How does that
> work out mathematically (in round numbers, please. I'm not a
> mathematician.) Just wondering.
>
> I agree with the rest of your posting re: liberal/literal euphemizing.
>
> Juli Kuhl

Back to Geometry 101, Juli! The "perimeter" of a circle is the same as
it's circumference. The distance of the two widest points on the circle
would be the diameter. And the relationship of the circumference to the
diameter of a circle is defined as pi (3.141592653589793238.....). All
the decimal places mean that pi is what is called an 'irrational'
number. That's rational from ratio, not reason. It can't be represented
by a fraction. Therefore, if the diameter is 10 cubits, then the
circumference is 31.4159..etc.. If the circumference is 30 cubits, the
diameter must be 9.5493... cubits. No way around it. :)

--
-- --Bill Yates--wtyates@vcnet.com--wtyates@aol.com--http://www.vcnet.com/wtyates/wtyates.html