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Mathematics · Ch 3 — Trigonometry

Different Systems of measurement of angle

3.2.2

Different Systems of measurement of angle

There are three standard systems for assigning a numerical measure to an angle.

  1. Sexagesimal system. The most familiar system: a right angle is divided into 9090 equal parts called degrees; each degree into 6060 equal parts called minutes; each minute into 6060 equal parts called seconds. A degree, minute and second are written 1∘1^\circ, 1′1' and 1′′1''. ("Sexagesimal" refers to this base-6060 subdivision — the same base-6060 idea used for measuring time.)
  2. Centesimal system. Here a right angle is divided into 100100 equal parts called grades, each grade subdivided into 100100 minutes, each of those into 100100 seconds. A grade is written 1g1^g. This system fits the decimal number system neatly but is rarely used in practice. …