Re: when to write radians

[Ludwik Kowalski <kowalskil@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>]

I suppose it is possible to accept a convention allowing to
use the word "radian" as a reference to a "ratio" of any two
quantities expressed in the same units. But why bother?
Ludwik Kowalski


On Monday, Jun 30, 2003, at 08:42 US/Eastern, Joe Heafner wrote:

> Hi.
> The angle subtended at the center of a circle by an arc of that circle
> has a measure, in radians, equal to the ratio of the arc length to the
> circle's radius. This ratio is the dimensionless ratio of two linear
> quantities, and the "radian" is needed to express the measure of the
> angle in some unit. Now, suppose we compare two other linear quantities
> such as the height of two people. Suppose the heights are 5 ft and 6 ft
> (pardon the use of non-SI). Am I correct in stating that in this case,
> the ratio is still dimensionless but will carry no unit (e.g. "radian")
> because no angular measure is involved?
>
> Cheers,
> Joe Heafner
>
> -----
> I don't have a Lexus, but I have a Mac. Same thing.