Degrees

Degrees are units used to express quantities in several domains. In geometry, trigonometry, and surveying, a degree is a unit of angular measure. A full circle contains 360 degrees, and each degree can be subdivided into minutes and seconds. Radians are another common unit, with 1 degree equal to π/180 radians. Geographic coordinates express latitude and longitude in degrees, often with decimal fractions for precision.

In temperature measurement, degree symbols denote different scales. The Celsius (°C) scale sets the freezing point of water at 0 and the boiling point at 100 at one atmosphere; the Fahrenheit (°F) scale assigns 32 and 212 to those points. The Kelvin scale (K) is used in science without a degree symbol, with 0 K as absolute zero. Conversions between scales follow standard formulas: °C to °F: multiply by 9/5 and add 32; °F to °C: subtract 32 and multiply by 5/9; °C to K: add 273.15.

In education, degrees refer to academic qualifications awarded by universities and colleges. Degrees range from associate and bachelor’s to master’s and doctoral levels, and include professional degrees in fields such as medicine, law, or engineering. Degree programs designate field of study, duration, and competencies, and completion typically requires coursework, examinations, and sometimes a thesis or capstone project.