sineroth745756 t1_j6g7h9k wrote
Reply to comment by GetsGold in TIL China is bigger than the U.S. in terms of land area. The U.S. is also bigger than Canada in terms of land area. by Mewhenthe4
use a map at 1:1000 scale and a piece of string measure the string... that paradox Assumes you keep zooming to grains of sand
GetsGold t1_j6gb89y wrote
The paradox doesn't depend on continuously zooming, the problem is that the length changes depending on the accuracy of your measurement or how much you zoom. So you could choose a string, and choose how sharply to bend that string around the border, but that's arbitrary. Why not a thinner string with a smaller scale of tracing, or a thicker rope with less sharp tracing?
sineroth745756 t1_j6godom wrote
because u are comparing so u use the same size string lol yer just being difficult 8)
GetsGold t1_j6gpyqr wrote
You're comparing with the same size string, but the size you use is arbitrary and you will get different comparisons depending on the choice. With one choice, one country might have a larger border, with another, another might. And look how many complaints there are in this thread just because China has a bigger land area. Now imagine if there is one string that would give China a bigger border and one which gives the US a bigger one. Then China would just choose the measurement which makes them bigger and US the other.
sineroth745756 t1_j6ho4q1 wrote
use the same string pal and u can see which one has a longer boarder.
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