Definition:Angle/Unit/Degree/Historical Note

Historical Note on Degree of Arc

The division of the circle into $360$ degrees originates from the Babylonians, who used a sexagesimal (base $60$) number system for the purposes of mathematics and astronomy.

Degrees are usually the first way of measuring angles taught to mathematics students, usually at grade school.

Conveniently, the most commonly used angles in geometry (for example $30 \degrees$, $45 \degrees$, $60 \degrees$) are all whole numbers when measured in degrees.

Sources

• 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $60$
• 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $60$
• 2008: Ian Stewart: Taming the Infinite ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Tokens, Tallies and Tablets: The first numerals

• Weisstein, Eric W. "Degree." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/Degree.html