I like the TV series Numb3rs. It’s about this maths genius who helps solve crimes for the FBI by using mathematics.
Let’s do something similar today, lets use maths to possibly describe how we get names.. and today’s subject is Setapak, KL.
Setapak in Bahasa Melayu is literally translated to “One Step”. From Cousin Wiki, we gathered that it was named thus due to its figuratively close location to KL. Another explanation is the name is a tribute to “Batu Tapak”, an orang asli headman. Both explanations sound logical and they make sense.
.. but what if, Setapak was not named figuratively. Or named after a person.
What if Setapak is literally named? Maybe years ago it was so small that it was literally “One Step” in area. But times have changed, it’s a big suburb of KL now. How big would the person be to have a single step that bridges the Setapak of today?
Let’s crunch some numbers:
First, we need a control point. Using the highly scientific process of obtaining accurate measurements, I used an old measuring tape and eyeballed the length of my step to around 65cm and I’m 1.7m tall. Therefore, My height to step ratio is = 1.7/0.65 = 2.615
I’m going to lazily assume that the Setapak area is the Wangsa Maju parliamentary area which is 13.91 square km. I’m also assuming that Setapak is in the shape of a box to make the calculations (and my life) much easier. To get the length of each side of that box, we look to square roots. And that is 3.72km. We will use this number as the length of the step.
Therefore we can safely assume that in order to have a step of 3.72km, our person needs to be 3.72×2.615 = 9.7km tall. Yup, if Setapak was named today it will be named after a giant 9.7km tall! That is more than 21 Petronas Twin Towers tall!
Pro graphic for people who don't like to read "Setapak: A Calculation"
Whatever the origin of the name Setapak, it’s a place called home to more than 150,000 people, a healthy mix of Malays, Chinese, Indians and others.
Or viewing it from another angle, how many steps would it be to walk from end to end? The answer is 3.72/0.00065 = 5,723 steps. Limaributujuhratusduapuluhtigatapak just doesn’t have the same ooomph as Setapak right?
Filed under: Random Calculations, Blog4FT, KL, KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, Petronas Twin Towers, Setapak
that is one wicked theory, funny too. You got my vote funny man
walaweh.. i think u know why, but i seem can’t digest how u made that calculation. i’m also one of the ‘Numb3r’ fans.. but u nowhere near his calculation.. nway i dont think u mean any harm to ‘setapak’ or anything in ur entry.. n gud luck bro!
Thank you for your kind comments:) I don’t mean any harm in the post, I just get funny ideas on why names of places come to be.
So next time you’re driving there, be careful.. there be giants in Setapak:)
Ini blog org manure. aku x suka.
cmon RAFA. LIverpool gonna win EPL 09/10!!!
*clicks link again*
There is a road near my house known as “Jalan Hujan Emas”. I strongly believe gold will fall from sky in 31 February 2020.
ooo.. that’s an interesting! Would be interesting to calculate how much emas will actually fall if it rained gold and the value in today’s market. I’m thinking of doing some calculations on how much wang there is if there is a literal Sungai Wang…
And 31st Feb? Hahahah.. I think so too!
in my humble opinion, maybe the Wang in Sungai Wang wasn’t really related with money.
Maybe it is someone family name, like Mr.Wang or something. I might be wrong, but lets do a calculation on Mr Wang height if I am correct.
oh no.. then i dont wanna go to setapak. ahahahha.. btw, i would like to know how u calculate ‘taman billion’ =))
hye there.. nice entry heheh.. i will vote for u theory heheheh… ow i think the giant is more bigger then ur calculation heheheh..
it is setapak… ur calculation is “selangkah”.. at the giant foot itself is 3.7 KM hheheheh
correct me if im wrong.. (^_^)
omg! You’re right! Kalau ikut betul-betul, my calculations does mean ‘Selangkah’. I was just too excited doing the entry that it totally slipped my mind:)
Thanks for pointing it out to me! I’ll correct it in a follow up article later.
hahaha actually want put comment yesterday.. but i fogot heheh…. or maybe bos are moving around hehe.. well i’m looking forward to ur next post hehehe… (^_^)