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What the FVCK is calculus? (media.piefed.social)
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[-] IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world 48 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

there's a difference.

their engineering was amazing, but to compensate for lack of modern maths, they build with a much larger margin of safety and strength.

that's why some of those aqueducts last 2000 years.

no one wants to build infrastructure that lasts so long. we could build a bridge designed to last thousands of years, but it'll cost way way more, and the budget isn't unlimited.

[-] Ellvix@lemmy.world 32 points 2 weeks ago

I like the way someone described a similar retort:

Anyone can build a bridge that stays up and lasts a long time, but it takes a skilled engineer to build a bridge that just barely stays up a long time and minimizes costs and materials.

[-] IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago

100% not a joke, that is the point.

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this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2026
384 points (90.5% liked)

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