Letter: Where in the world would all of us fit?

Sir: Nigel Curtis's letter today concerning the Isle of Wight and the world population is in error - by a factor of 100. The area available per person is 690 square centimetres, about 10 inches square, and not 6.9 square centimetres as suggested.

Errors in calculations made using calculators tend to involve the number of zeros. A longhand check is invaluable.

Yours etc,

H. M. SHEWELL

Gosforth, Tyne & Wear

29 December