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Technology has always found its greatest consumer in a nation's war and defense efforts. Since the last attempts at a "Star Wars" defense system, has technology changed considerably enough to make the latest Missile Defense initiatives more successful? Can such an application of science be successful? Is a militarized space inevitable, necessary or impossible?

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lchic - 12:20pm Feb 15, 2003 EST (# 8923 of 8926)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

Proportion

http://www.intermath-uga.gatech.edu/dictnary/descript.asp?termID=278

Proportion (Pro*por"tion) n. [F., fr. L. proportio; pro before + portio part or share. See Portion.]

1. The relation or adaptation of one portion to another, or to the whole, as respect magnitude, quantity, or degree; comparative relation; ratio; as, the proportion of the parts of a building, or of the body.

The image of Christ, made after his own proportion. Ridley.

Formed in the best proportions of her sex. Sir W. Scott.

Documents are authentic and facts are true precisely in proportion to the support which they afford to his theory. Macaulay.

2. Harmonic relation between parts, or between different things of the same kind; symmetrical arrangement or adjustment; symmetry; as, to be out of proportion. "Let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith." Rom. xii. 6.

3. The portion one receives when a whole is distributed by a rule or principle; equal or proper share; lot.

Let the women . . . do the same things in their proportions and capacities. Jer. Taylor.

4. A part considered comparatively; a share.

5. (Math.) (a) The equality or similarity of ratios, especially of geometrical ratios; or a relation among quantities such that the quotient of the first divided by the second is equal to that of the third divided by the fourth; — called also geometrical proportion, in distinction from arithmetical proportion, or that in which the difference of the first and second is equal to the difference of the third and fourth.

Proportion in the mathematical sense differs from ratio. Ratio is the relation of two quantities of the same kind, as the ratio of 5 to 10, or the ratio of 8 to 16. Proportion is the sameness or likeness of two such relations. Thus, 5 to 10 as 8 to 16; that is, 5 bears the same relation to 10 as 8 does to 16. Hence, such numbers are said to be in proportion. Proportion is expressed by symbols thus:

a:b::c:d, or a:b = c:d, or a/b = c/d.

(b) The rule of three, in arithmetic, in which the three given terms, together with the one sought, are proportional.

Continued proportion, Inverse proportion, etc. See under Continued, Inverse, etc. — Harmonical, or Musical, proportion, a relation of three or four quantities, such that the first is to the last as the difference between the first two is to the difference between the last two; thus, 2, 3, 6, are in harmonical proportion; for 2 is to 6 as 1 to 3. Thus, 24, 16, 12, 9, are harmonical, for 24:9::8:3. — In proportion, according as; to the degree that. "In proportion as they are metaphysically true, they are morally and politically false." Burke.

Proportion (Pro*por"tion), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proportioned ; p. pr. & vb. n. Proportioning.] [Cf. F. proportionner. Cf. Proportionate, v.]

1. To adjust in a suitable proportion, as one thing or one part to another; as, to proportion the size of a building to its height; to proportion our expenditures to our income.

In the loss of an object we do not proportion our grief to the real value . . . but to the value our fancies set upon it. Addison.

2. To form with symmetry or suitableness, as the parts of the body.

Nature had proportioned her without any fault. Sir P. Sidney.

3. To divide into equal or just shares; to apportion.

Proportionable (Pro*por"tion*a*ble) a. Capable of being proportioned, or made proportional; also, proportional; proportionate. — Pro*por"tion*a*ble*ness, n.

But eloquence may exist without a proportionable degree of wisdom. Burke.

Proportionable, which is no longer much favored, was of our [i. e., English writers'] own coining. Fitzed. Hall.

Proportionably (Pro*por"tion*a*bly), adv. Proportionally. Locke.

Proportional (Pro*por"tion*al) a. [L. proportionalis: cf. F. proportionnel.]

1. Having a due proportion, or comparative relation; being in suitable proportion or de

lchic - 12:23pm Feb 15, 2003 EST (# 8924 of 8926)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

1. Having a due proportion, or comparative relation; being in suitable proportion or degree; as, the parts of an edifice are proportional. Milton.

2. Relating to, or securing, proportion. Hutton.

3. (Math.) Constituting a proportion; having the same, or a constant, ratio; as, proportional quantities; momentum is proportional to quantity of matter.

Proportional logarithms, logistic logarithms. See under Logistic. — Proportional scale, a scale on which are marked parts proportional to the logarithms of the natural numbers; a logarithmic scale. — Proportional scales, compasses, dividers, etc. (Draughting), instruments used in making copies of drawings, or drawings of objects, on an enlarged or reduced scale.

Proportional (Pro*por"tion*al), n.

1. (Math.) Any number or quantity in a proportion; as, a mean proportional.

2. (Chem.) The combining weight or equivalent of an element. [Obs.]

Proportionality (Pro*por`tion*al"i*ty) n. [Cf. F. proportionnalité.] The state of being in proportion. Coleridge.

Proportionally (Pro*por"tion*al*ly) adv. In proportion; in due degree; adapted relatively; as, all parts of the building are proportionally large. Sir I. Newton.

Proportionate (Pro*por"tion*ate) a. [L. proportionatus. See Proportion.] Adjusted to something else according to a proportion; proportional. Longfellow.

What is proportionate to his transgression. Locke.

Proportionate (Pro*por"tion*ate) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proportionated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Proportionating.] [Cf. Proportion, v.] To make proportional; to adjust according to a settled rate, or to due comparative relation; to proportion; as, to proportionate punishment to crimes.

Proportionately (Pro*por"tion*ate*ly) adv. In a proportionate manner; with due proportion; proportionally.

Proportionateness (Pro*por"tion*ate*ness), n. The quality or state of being proportionate. Sir M. Hale.

Proportionless (Pro*por"tion*less) a. Without proportion; unsymmetrical.

Proportionment (Pro*por"tion*ment) n. The act or process of dividing out proportionally

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