Gradians (grad), as opposed to degrees & radians

[eLiu]

I've always wondered if anyone practically uses the "gradian".

It's defined as 1/400 of a circle. So 1 grad = 9/10 degree = pi/200 radians. (Or at least this is what seems to be the case on my Ti-36Xsolar).

Almost every "Scientific" calculator I've run across has a function for converting between deg<->rad<->grad and doing trig in each of those measures. I see degrees and radians daily... but I've never run across a gradian, ever.

 

[LS20]

"One advantage of this unit is that right angles are easy to add and subtract in mental arithmetic. If one is travelling on a course of 117 grad (clockwise from due North), say, then the direction to one's left is instantly convertible into 17 grads, ...

The unit originated in France as the grade, along with the metric system. "

The french use it because they r teh sux @ math lawlz