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Sexagesimal, also known as base 60, [1] is a numeral system with sixty as its base.It originated with the ancient Sumerians in the 3rd millennium BC, was passed down to the ancient Babylonians, and is still used—in a modified form—for measuring time, angles, and geographic coordinates.
The Babylonian system of mathematics was a sexagesimal (base 60) numeral system. From this we derive the modern-day usage of 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, and 360 degrees in a circle. [8] The Babylonians were able to make great advances in mathematics for two reasons.
The first fullerene to be discovered was buckminsterfullerene C 60, an allotrope of carbon with 60 atoms in each molecule, arranged in a truncated icosahedron. This ball is known as a buckyball, and looks like a soccer ball. The atomic number of neodymium is 60, and cobalt-60 (60 Co) is a radioactive isotope of cobalt.
For instance, consider division by the regular number 54 = 2 1 3 3. 54 is a divisor of 60 3, and 60 3 /54 = 4000, so dividing by 54 in sexagesimal can be accomplished by multiplying by 4000 and shifting three places. In sexagesimal 4000 = 1×3600 + 6×60 + 40×1, or (as listed by Joyce) 1:6:40.
A mathematical constant is a key number whose value is fixed by an unambiguous definition, often referred to by a symbol (e.g., an alphabet letter), or by mathematicians' names to facilitate using it across multiple mathematical problems. [1]
There is no general consensus about the definition of mathematics or its epistemological status—that is, its place inside knowledge. A great many professional mathematicians take no interest in a definition of mathematics, or consider it undefinable. There is not even consensus on whether mathematics is an art or a science.
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60° The sextant was the unit used by the Babylonians, [31] [32] The degree, minute of arc and second of arc are sexagesimal subunits of the Babylonian unit. It is straightforward to construct with ruler and compasses. It is the angle of the equilateral triangle or is 1 / 6 turn. 1 Babylonian unit = 60° = π /3 rad ≈ 1.047197551 rad ...