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How many sides does a circle has.

I just hit upon this interesting question!
I think I am not good enough to answer this. May be our genius friends here can help 😂
After reading all the response before mine, my brain hurts.

I would say an infinite amount of sides because as we increase the number of side in the polygon, the image appears more circular...approaching infinity.

Then again I might state zero...because it seems by definition of all other polygons, the side is defined as a straight line along he border of the figure. A circle has no such straight lines (unless we consider the infinite theory above) so by definition, there are no sides.

Then again, I might say one because a side may be defined as an single drawn line which has no defined angle...thus it;s not the sides that define a polygon but the number of angles. So in this case, there might be one side....unless one considers the infinite scenario above.

Juggling the three, I would submit that the answer is theoretically "Infinite"...with strong arguments of the other two answers.

My brain still hurts.
@MethDozer You having a good day, my friend?
MethDozer · M
@DarkHeaven Not too bad. It's a slow one anyway. You?
@MethDozer Tired but I’m living anyways. 😉
Two. The inside and the outside.
@MethDozer Plus we have to know the exact vectors of the third dimension points to even know what shape we are dealing with exactly. It’s all assumptive and theoretical until we have all the points graphed.
Mohana · 46-50, F
@DarkHeaven That's a very valid point. Can we define a side for a sphere ?
@Mohana We’d have to call it something else. Per the definition of a geometric side it cannot have an arc and spherical shapes have arcs.
Success · 26-30, F
None. A 'side' necessarily implies one of multiple sides. This is impossible with either the inside or outside of a circle. A circle is but a perfect closed-loop line.
Mohana · 46-50, F
@DarkHeaven Yes. But not convincingly though :)
@Mohana Only because we don’t know if we are describing a circle as a function or a concept. The answer changes based on which methodology we use to assign it’s value.
@Mohana It’s the mathematical equivalent of perspective.
plungesponge · 41-45, M
2. the inside and the outside
Mohana · 46-50, F
plungesponge · 41-45, M
4 line sides, an inside and an outside
Mohana · 46-50, F
@plungesponge 4*(inside+outside) = 8.
ozgirl512 · 26-30, F
That's a question for a psychologist ;)
ozgirl512 · 26-30, F
@Mohana many sparks are created here lol
Mohana · 46-50, F
@ozgirl512 Yes, indeed ! Too many sparks are generated and they are quite lasting too 😂
ozgirl512 · 26-30, F
@Mohana 😏
For those who are thinking that the answer is lim𝑛→∞𝑛=∞
lim
n


n
=

, via:

An 𝑛
n
-gon has 𝑛
n
sides;
A circle is a limit of a 𝑛
n
-gon as 𝑛→∞
n


;
Therefore a circle has lim𝑛→∞𝑛=∞
lim
n


n
=

sides;
I'd like to mention: it's not so straightforward. If taking limits in this way were legitimate then we can show that e.g. a square has an infinite number of sides.

Consider a staircase with 𝑛
n
steps, and each step has height 1/𝑛
1
/
n
and width 1/𝑛
1
/
n
. It consists of 2𝑛
2
n
line segments. As 𝑛→∞
n


, the staircase converges to a single line segment (i.e. the limit agrees point-for-point with a single line segment).

If we glue four of these staircases together, and take their limit, we obtain a square, which would have lim𝑛→∞4×2𝑛=∞
lim
n


4
×
2
n
=

sides.
@KA9ha ☮️
KA9ha · 31-35, M
@DarkHeaven what is that sign supposed to refer to?
@KA9ha Sort of an alternate thumbs up when I have nothing to add to the last comment. Sorry.
I thought more on this question this morning and the variance in answers stems from the ambiguity in what is being considered a side. The answer changes if we are answering the question of sides as a function, a concept, or as a riddle (more philosophical.) Without a more precise definition of a side and methodology used to define the circle there is truly no way to answer this question definitively.
Mohana · 46-50, F
@DarkHeaven I have a different take on this. 0 and infinity for me is never convincing. For 1 the definition of the side is not convincing. And regarding 2, that definition distorts the meaning completely.
@Mohana Fair enough. *giggles*
Mohana · 46-50, F
a circle has no sides, it's the reason so many churches are round now days
Mohana · 46-50, F
@saragoodtimes That's too philosophical for me to understand. I'm sorry :)
Wonder can any object have no sides at all ?
Dainbramadge · 56-60, M
This question was asked on Ouara once. The answer is so long and drawn out in it's explanation that I had no chance of following it being as I failed basic math.
The true answer as it was answered on Quara by someone who appeared to really know what they were talking about because they were giving equations and crazy stuff like that is one.
I thought two just like a lot of people do because to me a circle with only one side would actually be a sphere.
But also a circle with two sides wouldn't be a circle it would be a ring.
So I would have to go with one because it isn't a sphere nor a ring.
One I say. LOL
I wrote way to much.
Dainbramadge · 56-60, M
@TheOrionbeltseeker But let me add this. If a three and a half inch circle has one side so does the 12 inch one. I don't see where size matters. LOL. " That's what she said ". :-)
TheOrionbeltseeker · 36-40, M
@Dainbramadge browse this page. Read the person who knows noble winners.

https://www.quora.com/How-many-sides-does-a-circle-have
Dainbramadge · 56-60, M
@TheOrionbeltseeker Ok. I looked it over. I was surprised how many people actually did say infinite.
But let me try to explain it this way and maybe you can see where I am coming from in my less academic manner.
A square has four sides. Not an inside and outside just four. Using that as a base it doesn't matter what size the square is.
So with a circle not having an inside and outside because it isn't a ring it would only have one side.
Now if the circle was actually a sphere it wouldn't have any sides at all and could be considered infinite.
@TopCat A 3D version of a circle is nothing until we have vectored the 3D points somewhere. You are assuming that this is a perfect 3d circle and vectored as such. That is very assumptive and has not been stated as such anywhere in this thread. Much of the variance in answers stem in the ambiguity of terms used and what methodology is being used. Are we defining a circle as a function, a concept, or a riddle (more of a philosophical question at that point.) We still have no answers either way.
@ozgirl512 *giggle* After all of this trouble and ambiguity, you are seriously going to add in an entire fourth dimension. lol

Cells
8 {4,3} Hexahedron.png
Faces
24 {4}
Edges
32
Vertices
16

The term of a side is still highly ambiguous, so there is no answer.
To be fair, we honestly need a precise definition of face, edge and vertex, and an answer isn't really sensible without such definitions.
rfhh1959 · 61-69, M
@Jackaloftheazuresand I would phrase it as inside and outside however I am open to the different perspective
Sides is usually synonymous with edges so one
Mohana · 46-50, F
@BeefySenpie But were'nt edges just a convenience to define a side. Should we define a side restricting ourselves to edges ?
Harriet03 · 41-45, F
[image deleted]Give me a minute! 🤔
Mohana · 46-50, F
@Harriet03 You can take more minutes 😂.
Harriet03 · 41-45, F
@Mohana Nearly there!
I have to say to the group that it was refreshing to see an expansive dialogue NOT containing screaming political name calling or genitalia displays. There may actually be a hint of civility on this site after all.
@FigNewton ☮️
TheOrionbeltseeker · 36-40, M
We discussed it in the group and it said infinity again. When we integrate its approaching infinity and external angle is approaching zero not that it is exactly zero.

So, for the sake of convinience, we take the number of sides as infinity as it is -> infinity.
External Angle is - > zero but we take it as non zero or may be 0.0000000000000001 of a Degree.
Mohana · 46-50, F
@TheOrionbeltseeker If every point is equidistant from the center then angle has to be zero. There is no other possibility 🤔
TheOrionbeltseeker · 36-40, M
@Mohana Here we are not saying Zero, we are saying close to zero like this

[image deleted]
Though now, I think this one has no answer. It's like what came first chicken or the egg
Mohana · 46-50, F
@TheOrionbeltseeker wow! That's a nice representation. Thank you for putting it in paper so quickly :)
Yes, if we say it's close to 0. Then all points on the circle are not equidistant from center. That makes it a polygon and not a circle :)
I agree with you on the chicken and egg story 😂
UserNameSW · 46-50, M
It has 2 sides.

Inside and outside.
Dainbramadge · 56-60, M
@DarkHeaven Ha ha ha ha!!! I love this response. I like how you made me right AND wrong at the same time. :-)
Dainbramadge · 56-60, M
@DarkHeaven Oh wait. I didn't see which comment this was on. I was thinking it was on mine. My bad.
@Dainbramadge ✌️
SW-User
Mohana · 46-50, F
@SW-User well then you have ignored the sides :)
Mohana · 46-50, F
@Dainbramadge Yes , I now checked quora page. The answers are more like opinion.
Dainbramadge · 56-60, M
@Mohana I know right??? I can't believe how difficult this seems to be to answer.
juiceyangel333 · 31-35, F
Infinite number of sides because it's a circle
Mohana · 46-50, F
@juiceyangel333 Good try , but we have enough counter arguments for this in this thread :)
JamesHunt · 31-35, M
Mohana · 46-50, F
@JamesHunt Well, you have to justify your answer :)
JamesHunt · 31-35, M
@Mohana just make the circle ⭕️ on floor
Mohana · 46-50, F
@JamesHunt Well, does it really matter if the circle is on a board or floor ?
Ok, I will offer three distinct answers to your question.

Answer No. 1.
A circle is by definition a two dimensional construct. It exists on a single plane. It is one line with its ends connected to each other.

Any line on a plane has two sides, as there are two dimensions to a plane. Those two sides to the line can be described as left and right, top and bottom, or upper and lower. All of those names describe the same set of two sides. There are but two sides to any line in any plane.

"Inside and outside" is a set of names accurately representing the very same two sides such a line has on that very same two dimensional plane.

Regardless of the position of the single line defining the circle it still has two sides and two sides only. One for each dimension of the plane. The names of the two sides matter not.
Infinite or one
Mohana · 46-50, F
@TopCat Its always debatable unless you can come up with a convincing answer :)
TheOrionbeltseeker · 36-40, M
A circle can take the shape of a polygon with n no of sides where length of the side tends to be smaller and smaller and with that value of n will reach infinity as the length approaches zero.

I hope this solves your question theoretically.
Mohana · 46-50, F
@TheOrionbeltseeker But that makes the external angle 0 that makes it no more a circle.
KA9ha · 31-35, M
It will have 360 sides if your integral is one degree apart.
@KA9ha Nice try. There’s no molecular structure to a simple geometric shape.
Mohana · 46-50, F
@KA9ha Yes. Theoretically we can break it into segments. But as it approaches infinity math fails :)
Mohana · 46-50, F
@DarkHeaven That's right!
My old teacher asked me once what year was the War of 1812 fought in and I asked if this was multiple choice? So having said that I’m totally clueless on your question 😂
Kwek00 · 41-45, M
When you are in a circular room with the kids, and you really want to punish them. Tell them to stand in the corner.

It fucks them up! 🧐
Mohana · 46-50, F
@Kwek00 I believe the kids will have hard time finding the corner 😂
Kwek00 · 41-45, M
@Mohana Fuck them up! 🧐
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
Silly ... a square has 6 sides, left, right,top, bottom, front and back.

A cube has six sides as well.

A circle has no left, right, top or bottom, yet it does have a front and back. 2

A sphere though has no sides!

Circumscribe a cube around a sphere. Now spin the sphere in the cube. Like a gyroscope.

Where are the side's of the sphere in relation to the cube?
Mohana · 46-50, F
@DeWayfarer You are not defining a circle, instead a coin :)
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@Mohana Circumscribe a cube around a sphere. Now spin the sphere in the cube. Like a gyroscope.

Where are the side's of the sphere in relation to the cube when it rests.
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@Mohana Note circles exist in a three dimensional space! Just because its two dimensional doesn't mean it doesn't exist!

Your coin is three dimensional!
Leftyss · 56-60, M
One. It is continuous . There no inside. It is closed
TheOrionbeltseeker · 36-40, M
@Leftyss wrong
Leftyss · 56-60, M
@TheOrionbeltseeker depends on your mind set.
Mohana · 46-50, F
@Leftyss That's a good point.
cherokeepatti · 61-69, F
Well you’ve certainly stirred up controversy this morning? Proud of yourself? 😂
Mohana · 46-50, F
😂@cherokeepatti The controversy according to you is as good as the definition of sides here :)
Inside and outside. How many is that? I am not good with numbers.
Mohana · 46-50, F
@quitwhendone That's not correct according to me. We all had a long discussion here. May be you can go through few of them and we can catch up on the interesting points.
TheOrionbeltseeker · 36-40, M
Infinite sides is the correct answer for once again.
Mohana · 46-50, F
@TheOrionbeltseeker There is a flaw to this answer as well.
Chevy454 · 46-50, M
2. Front and back? How many holes does a straw have?lol
Mohana · 46-50, F
@Chevy454 In 2D space we don't talk about front and back. So not quite right for me :)
Between a straw has no holes ? 😂
Just one that's all over the place.
Mohana · 46-50, F
@PiecingBabyFaceTogether I couldn't convince myself with that answer :)
@Mohana If try drawing a circle it's just one line. Unlike any other shape.
Think of the earth, we all live on the crust whether you are here in the Middle East or USA or whatever, that crust is the only side 😉
RemovedUsername4422 · 61-69, M
infinity numbers of sides....
Mohana · 46-50, F
@RemovedUsername4422 That's what I believe too. But I don't want to conclude on that . We are receiving a lot of interesting reasoning :)
the inside and the outside
SW-User
All of them.
Mohana · 46-50, F
@SW-User You mean all the answers ?
0
All parts of the circle are of equal distance to the center of a circle. A side must be comprised of a line and two angles, one on each side of the line.
SW-User
If you plotted it on plane..Then there is an upper and lower.
It depends on how you play with the words
As a curve
Limit , etc
antonioio · 70-79, M
Inside and outside and other circle's have only one side 😚
TheOrionbeltseeker · 36-40, M
@antonioio wrongv
KA9ha · 31-35, M
circle has a ghanchakker associated ,,,, a typhoon.
DunningKruger · 61-69, M
Two — the inside and the outside.
AngelKrish · 26-30, M
Two!
How many sides does sphere has?
TheOrionbeltseeker · 36-40, M
A circle has Infinite sides.
Vimala · F
infinite sides.
in10RjFox · M
360 .. 😜
2 - Inside and outside.
SW-User
@InOtterWords 🕵️ are you inside the circle or outside the circle?
@SW-User on the fringe
SW-User
@InOtterWords I've felt that my entire life
NudasPriest · 46-50, M
An upside and a downside.
Mohana · 46-50, F
@NudasPriest That's not quite right. We are dealing with 2D :)
NudasPriest · 46-50, M
@Mohana I was thinking of a different kind of circle.
MethDozer · M
0.

Sides in geometry are the stuff of polygons. A circle doesn't have any lines traveling between two fixed points. No sides.
MethDozer · M
@Mohana Nah, there's only two valid theories on it and neither prove the other wrong. It depends on whether the circle is a function and concept.
Mohana · 46-50, F
@MethDozer I won't disagree. Let's take a break. My brain is going chaotic :)
@MethDozer That’s it exactly. It depends on on the methodology used but only one way has practical real life application.

 
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