Definition:Historic Measures/Length/Pace

Definition

The pace is a unit of length.

\(\ds \)

\(\)

\(\ds 1\)

pace

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 5\)

feet

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 60\)

inches

Historical Note

The pace was defined in Roman times as $2$ steps.

Hence it is approximated to about $5$ feet.

This is how the Roman mille passuum is defined, which is literally $1000$ paces.

Hence the origin of the mile.

Sources

• Mar. 1992: John Hadley/2 and David Singmaster: Problems to Sharpen the Young (Math. Gazette Vol. 76, no. 475: pp. 102 – 126)  www.jstor.org/stable/3620384