Definition of sexagesimal in English:
sexagesimal
adjective ˌsɛksəˈdʒɛsɪm(ə)lˌsɛksəˈdʒɛsəməl
1Relating to or reckoning by sixtieths.
a decimal system like ours or a sexagesimal system like the Babylonian
2Relating to the number sixty.
Example sentencesExamples
- The most important of these was the sexagesimal place value system, widely associated with signs for the numbers 1, 10, 60, 600, and 3600.
- In ancient Babylon a sexagesimal system, that is a base of 60, was in use.
- No other culture of the ancient world developed a sexagesimal number system, although non-Sumerian groups adopted the Sumerian script to represent their languages and used their numerical system.
- The Babylonian scale of enumeration is known as the sexagesimal system.
- Writing developed and counting was based on a sexagesimal system, that is to say base 60.
noun ˌsɛksəˈdʒɛsɪm(ə)lˌsɛksəˈdʒɛsəməl
A fraction based on sixtieths (i.e. with a denominator equal to a power of sixty), as in the divisions of the degree and hour.
Example sentencesExamples
- It gave tables of sines with entries calculated to three sexagesimal places for each half degree of the argument.
- The necessary background mathematical tools are then introduced such as the arithmetical operations on sexagesimal fractions and the trigonometric functions.
- In fact there are fascinating glimpses of the Babylonians coming to terms with the fact that division by 7 would lead to an infinite sexagesimal fraction.
- More fractions can therefore be represented as finite sexagesimal fractions than can as finite decimal fractions.
- The first deals with integers, the second with proper common fractions, the third with improper fractions, and finally the fourth with sexagesimals.
Origin
Late 17th century: from Latin sexagesimus 'sixtieth' + -al.
Definition of sexagesimal in US English:
sexagesimal
adjectiveˌseksəˈjesəməlˌsɛksəˈdʒɛsəməl
1Relating to or reckoning by sixtieths.
a decimal system like ours or a sexagesimal system like the Babylonian
2Relating to the number sixty.
Example sentencesExamples
- No other culture of the ancient world developed a sexagesimal number system, although non-Sumerian groups adopted the Sumerian script to represent their languages and used their numerical system.
- The Babylonian scale of enumeration is known as the sexagesimal system.
- In ancient Babylon a sexagesimal system, that is a base of 60, was in use.
- Writing developed and counting was based on a sexagesimal system, that is to say base 60.
- The most important of these was the sexagesimal place value system, widely associated with signs for the numbers 1, 10, 60, 600, and 3600.
nounˌseksəˈjesəməlˌsɛksəˈdʒɛsəməl
A fraction based on sixtieths (i.e. with a denominator equal to a power of sixty), as in the divisions of the degree and hour.
Example sentencesExamples
- The first deals with integers, the second with proper common fractions, the third with improper fractions, and finally the fourth with sexagesimals.
- More fractions can therefore be represented as finite sexagesimal fractions than can as finite decimal fractions.
- The necessary background mathematical tools are then introduced such as the arithmetical operations on sexagesimal fractions and the trigonometric functions.
- In fact there are fascinating glimpses of the Babylonians coming to terms with the fact that division by 7 would lead to an infinite sexagesimal fraction.
- It gave tables of sines with entries calculated to three sexagesimal places for each half degree of the argument.
Origin
Late 17th century: from Latin sexagesimus ‘sixtieth’ + -al.