Nov 4, 2008 18:23
15 yrs ago
French term
un diamètre du cercle
French to English
Science
Mathematics & Statistics
Geometry
The sentence containing this expression:
-> Soit un cercle. De son centre rayonne une infinité de spirales logarithmiques qui coupent le cercle, puis ensuite une droite qui peut être UN DIAMÈTRE DU CERCLE.
-> Soit un cercle. De son centre rayonne une infinité de spirales logarithmiques qui coupent le cercle, puis ensuite une droite qui peut être UN DIAMÈTRE DU CERCLE.
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +4 | a diameter of the circle | Jennifer Levey |
4 +1 | circle diameter (the diameter of a circle) | Ellen Kraus |
4 +1 | explanation | polyglot45 |
Proposed translations
+4
2 hrs
Selected
a diameter of the circle
Without knowing the purpose of this exercise, it's difficult to be more precise than the source text extract we see in the question.
That said, I think you might be confusing youself - and answerers here - by highlighting 'un diamètre du cercle'. I would instead look for a translation of the slightly longer phrase:
'... une droite qui peut être un diamètre du cercle'.
Then, the text seems to be saying that you have:
- a circle
- a set of spirals
- a straight line, anywhere on the page - *including the possibility that it may pass through the centre of the circle and therefore constitute a diameter of the circle*.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2008-11-04 20:45:01 GMT)
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The mathematical significance of the sentence may be that if the straight line passes through the centre of the circle (and is therefore a diameter of the circle), that is a special case in which the points of intersection of a spiral and the line will be in a regular progression; if the line is not a diameter the progression will be irregular - and may different for each spiral.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2008-11-04 21:18:04 GMT)
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Re Andy's note below: I don't pretend to be sure that I'm accurately visualizing that additional explantion, but I reckon it's not inconsistent with my explanation above.
That said, I think you might be confusing youself - and answerers here - by highlighting 'un diamètre du cercle'. I would instead look for a translation of the slightly longer phrase:
'... une droite qui peut être un diamètre du cercle'.
Then, the text seems to be saying that you have:
- a circle
- a set of spirals
- a straight line, anywhere on the page - *including the possibility that it may pass through the centre of the circle and therefore constitute a diameter of the circle*.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2008-11-04 20:45:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The mathematical significance of the sentence may be that if the straight line passes through the centre of the circle (and is therefore a diameter of the circle), that is a special case in which the points of intersection of a spiral and the line will be in a regular progression; if the line is not a diameter the progression will be irregular - and may different for each spiral.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2008-11-04 21:18:04 GMT)
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Re Andy's note below: I don't pretend to be sure that I'm accurately visualizing that additional explantion, but I reckon it's not inconsistent with my explanation above.
Note from asker:
I most certainly enjoyed reading your takes on this. The purpose of this exercise is to prove that in a network of curves, a circle is the symmetrical figure of a straight line. Maybe it can help if you read the text that follows: "Nous mesurons les arcs de spirale qui vont du cercle à la droite, nous en prenons le milieu, nous joignons ces milieux, ce qui définit une courbe C. Lorsque les conditions angulaires sont telles qu'au point d'intersection, la tangente à la courbe est perpendiculaire à la tangente aux arcs spiraux, nous disons que le cercle est symétrique de la droite par rapport à la courbe C dans un réseau spiral." |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+1
11 mins
circle diameter (the diameter of a circle)
ny suggestion
Note from asker:
Maybe I'm missing something here: I get the impression that "circle diameter" does not make all too much sense in the sentence it is used in: "puis ensuite une droite qui peut être UN DIAMÈTRE DU CERCLE." "... that can be a circle diameter" Would you be willing to comment on your suggested translation, in relation to the sentence it is used in? Could you maybe paraphrase what you think the author is trying to say? |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Will Matter
0 min
|
thank you !
|
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neutral |
Tony M
: Not really, it makes all the difference that it is A diameter of THE circle, and the word order is crucial here.
2 hrs
|
+1
37 mins
explanation
the straight line in question may be one of the diameters of the circle.
After all, although all diameters will have the same length, they can start anywhere on the circumference of the circle, crossing to the other side via the centre to arrive at their opposite point.
Think of a circle, draw one diameter, now draw a different diameter and so on .... you'll see what I mean
After all, although all diameters will have the same length, they can start anywhere on the circumference of the circle, crossing to the other side via the centre to arrive at their opposite point.
Think of a circle, draw one diameter, now draw a different diameter and so on .... you'll see what I mean
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