Re: Worldmap mercator projection - Latitude to Y calculation. - last try

On 2026/1/26 11:13:59, Daniel70 wrote:
> On 26/01/2026 2:01 am, R.Wieser wrote:
>> John,
>>
>>> Ah, UK/US difference again. In UK, the form formule is 1677-1829
>>> (https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?scope=Entries&q=formule),
>>> whereas the form formula is current
>>
>> merriam-webster doesn't make any such distinction. Who am I going to believe
>> ?
> 
> merriam-webster is Yank, isn't it??

Yes.

> 
> Nuff said.

Well, despite what many people think (and what many people _wish_!), the
majority of dictionaries do _not_ record how language _should_ be used,
but how it _is_. As such, M-W is probably reflecting US usage; the OED
probably primarily reflects UK usage, though usually tries to record US
usage too, but would appear to be somewhat behind on this entry (or, I
haven't got beyond the paywall aspects to delve further).

(There _are_ "prescriptive" dictionaries, mainly for people learning the
language as a foreigner, who have need of such.)

> 
>>> formule comes from the French formule,
>>
>> Yes, thats what the link I posted says.   And for funzels it mentions your
>> singular "formula" as being the plural of of "formule".

Yes, I noticed that. I've never come across that as a plural (it's very
odd: would only make sense etymologically if the singular was formulum,
which is isn't; that isn't to say that it isn't used though!)

>>
>>> Isn't language fun!
>>
>> Almost as funny as math.  :-(

Well, I enjoy it. (Can't really help it in my family - both parents were
language teachers and brother works for the dictionary.) And I do enjoy
_some_ maths (UK spelling!) too.

>>
>> Regards,
>> Rudy Wieser

Regards, John

-- 
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

G B Shaw said: "Few people think more than two or three times a year; I
have made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or
twice a week." (quoted by "Dont Bother" [sic], 2015-8-24.)