Or without any measuring tools whatsoever. Just a straight edge. Like, if I were back in BCE times, how would I draw a perfect angle of 90 degrees?


I don't think I learned this in college.

Just curious. Google just won't give me a straight answer.

1/26/2011 8:21:33 PM

a triangle ...

1/26/2011 8:22:26 PM

Very fucking carefully.

1/26/2011 8:23:51 PM

You could tie a rock to a piece of string, then tie the other end to a tree or something. That string would be a straight line, so just shine some light on to one side then trace the shadow on the ground.

1/26/2011 8:24:10 PM

what about a triangle?^^

1/26/2011 8:24:26 PM

what about CAD?

1/26/2011 8:25:25 PM

use the right angle side. Mark 2 equal lengths on triangle, or use scale provided. draw half. Flip it over, and fit the measures into the previously drawn portion, and draw the rest.

1/26/2011 8:28:22 PM

just use MS Paint

1/26/2011 8:29:00 PM

it all depends on your tolerances

1/26/2011 8:30:14 PM

missing the point.


only want to make an angle of 90 degrees using no pre-made angle of 90 degrees. I'm in the year 200BCE.

[Edited on January 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM. Reason : ]

1/26/2011 8:30:27 PM

string...
peice of ___ made to length...

[Edited on January 26, 2011 at 8:31 PM. Reason : ]

1/26/2011 8:31:04 PM

Quote :

"I'm in the year. 200BCE."

Dude.... you could totally rule the world with the computer you're typing on right now.

1/26/2011 8:31:29 PM

1/26/2011 8:31:52 PM

we also don't really know what they did and didn't have then. All we know is what we have found and theorized.

This point made both my history of technology and history of design professors very irritated.

[Edited on January 26, 2011 at 8:34 PM. Reason : duurr. Ror some reason I assumed he nixed compasses, thus resulting in previous post]

[Edited on January 26, 2011 at 8:35 PM. Reason : ]

1/26/2011 8:32:42 PM

^^ /thread

[Edited on January 26, 2011 at 8:34 PM. Reason : Ernie wins, arcgeek loses]

1/26/2011 8:33:19 PM

But I really proposed the same with string, just no compass.

1/26/2011 8:34:59 PM

but you didn't have a pretty gif

1/26/2011 8:35:51 PM

what if I'm the pretty Jeff?

[Edited on January 26, 2011 at 8:36 PM. Reason : would that mean that I'm about to receive a pm from evan... :YIKES:]

1/26/2011 8:36:21 PM

arcs abound in here

1/26/2011 8:37:19 PM

1/26/2011 8:37:21 PM

I have found evidence that previous cultures may have had a mysterious ability to draw such shapes in mid air with nothing but their bare hands!

1/26/2011 8:38:51 PM

Ernie let me pose another question.

What if you don't have a perfectly straight line to start with?

1/26/2011 8:39:12 PM

Nails/pins plus several pieces of string?

1/26/2011 8:40:55 PM

1) get a stone tablet
2) fold in half
---
profit

[Edited on January 26, 2011 at 8:42 PM. Reason : ^or that]

1/26/2011 8:41:09 PM

http://www.autonopedia.org.uk/appropriate_technology/Tools/Tools_and_How_to_Use_Them/Rules.html

1/26/2011 8:43:08 PM

ok, arcgreek I'll take that.

I was just thinking, wandering today.


"Where did the first square come from?"



[Edited on January 26, 2011 at 8:46 PM. Reason : FUCK didnt see the r]

1/26/2011 8:43:47 PM

3 4 5 right triangle

1/26/2011 9:25:35 PM

Draw a straight line, use a compass to bisect it in half, and there you have it your first right angle..

1/26/2011 9:47:00 PM