The genesis of a standard

It is profitable that we briefly review the sequence of events that has led inexorably to the appearance of A4 in our day:

• He who created the earth must already have decided what size it should be - a decision that would become a key factor in determining the absolute length of the metre in the 18th century;

• He who created the earth also created man - having already made decisions concerning his physical, mental, and other attributes which, ultimately, would determine a suitable and preferred document shape and size for general use;

• He who created had also made it clear that ten was a significant number - particularly suitable for use, (a) as radix for man's systems of number representation and, (b) as a multiplier and sub-multiplier to complement the metre in the establishing the metric sytem's dominance in 21st century metrology;

• man's decision to choose the square root of 2 as the ratio of the sides of his preferred shape, the rectangle, has arisen from considerations of utility, economy, and simple logic - as befitting those created in God's image.

Clearly, the A-series - and A4 in particular - is the outcome of a complex series of steps - each demanding a degree of subtle divine guidance!

VJ: 2002-02-02