gradës

Gradës refers to a unit of measurement for angles, also known as a degree. It is one of the most common ways to express the measure of an angle. A full circle is divided into 360 gradës. This means that one gradë is equal to 1/360th of a full rotation.

The symbol for gradës is a small superscript circle (°). For example, a right angle measures 90°. The concept of dividing a circle into 360 parts is believed to have originated in ancient Babylon. The number 360 has many divisors, making it a convenient number for calculations and divisions.

Gradës are used in various fields, including geometry, trigonometry, navigation, and astronomy. In geometry, angles are measured in gradës to describe the relationship between lines and planes. In navigation, gradës are essential for determining direction and position. For instance, lines of latitude and longitude on Earth are measured in gradës. In astronomy, the apparent position and movement of celestial objects are often described using gradës.

Subdivisions of gradës exist for more precise measurements. One gradë can be divided into 60 minutes ('), and each minute can be divided into 60 seconds ("). This system is known as degrees, minutes, and seconds (DMS). For example, an angle might be expressed as 45° 30' 15". While gradës are widely used, other units for measuring angles, such as radians, also exist and are favored in certain scientific and mathematical contexts.