On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 21:34:26 Terry Simpson wrote: >Ma Be wrote: >>Why develop a scale (mil) that would be "binary" in nature (64)??? > >It has binary factors but is not quite binary. >6400 = 256 x 25 >360 = 8 x 45 >... ? True, but what I meant was that the significant digits IS a perfect binary, 64. I was merely submitting or inquiring if this were not done on purpose.
>However, when converting between angles and distance, the degree performs >less well than the mil or the radian. > On the above we both agree. >... >I personally think that a full circle is a much more defensible entity than >circle/4. > And I'm still not convinced that full circle should be it necessarily. In reality, let's face it, *positioning* angles, like in the *vertical* positions, for instance, would certainly NOT require anything beyond 90 degrees! What I mean is, say 120, for instance, that is the same as 60 but from "the opposite side"! And anything beyond 180 would obviously be meaningless as one would be "shooting at the ground". So, what I'm saying is that *in essence* one does not NEED anything beyond 90 degrees. It just suffice us to change the *reference* and use a number between 0 and 90 to reproduce the *exact* angle we want. If vertical angles, shift to "your back". If horizontal, use the cardinal points as reference. In other words, angles *properties* (like sine, cosine, etc) self repeat after 90 degrees making a 1/4 of a circle ALL that would be necessary for angles properties. >... >Yes, you are missing the requirement to measure distance using angles and >distance. If you look through your mil calibrated binoculars (or use hand >and fist angles) and see your shell strike 50 mils to the left of a target 4 >km away, you can issue the command "Right 200" without much mental effort. > Hmm... But what's the difference (really?) if your instrument was calibrated and gave results in a different format? This argument is unfortunately obviously applicable to archaic stuff. I see your point, but there is also this other one to consider (instruments could be made to provide readings in any scale one wants AND answers to any questions one poses). Anyhow, I do appreciate your feedback and can see where you're coming from. Thanks a lot, Terry. One last question though. Wouldn't grades work just as well, even for this application? Now here would be a task to evaluate, how to make the grade just as convenient and workable. Marcus ____________________________________________________________ Get 25MB of email storage with Lycos Mail Plus! Sign up today -- http://www.mail.lycos.com/brandPage.shtml?pageId=plus
