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Old 01-Oct-2007, 22:35
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Default dividers vs compass

Is there any difference between a pair of dividers and a pair of compasses or are they exactly the same? Does anyone know?
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Old 01-Oct-2007, 22:54
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Default Re: dividers vs compass

Dividers are a piece of equipment used in mathematics consisting of two parts which are joined at one end and have sharp points at the other and which are used for measuring lines and angles and for marking positions along lines

Compass: 1: A mathematical instrument for dividing and drawing circles - looks like a pair of dividers but one arms holds a pencil with which marks can be made; 2: an instrument indicating the magnetic meridian. To avoid confusion, the term "compasses" is often used to identify the mathematical instrument.
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Old 02-Oct-2007, 10:58
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Default Re: dividers vs compass

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Originally Posted by micaelo View Post
Is there any difference between a pair of dividers and a pair of compasses or are they exactly the same? Does anyone know?
That's an old friend! My grandfather used to insist on this phrase. Most people (and most dictionaries) use 'compass' (but I don't, 'because I know it teases'*)

b

* Alice's Adventures in Wonderland -- Chapter VI and search for "teases"
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Old 02-Oct-2007, 11:16
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Default Re: dividers vs compass

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That's an old friend!
I adore that turn of phrase.

__________
A pair of compasses, an old and very familiar term indeed.
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