# Boob geometry

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-geometry/2709>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 29, 1999, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-geometry/2709 "1999-07-29T12:29:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Pete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Pete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pete)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 1999, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-geometry/2709/21 "1999-08-08T19:33:00Z")

</div>

The pencil is supposed to show that the breasts don’t sag. If it gets stuck between the breast and chest, either the breasts are saggy or they’re extremely big.

* * *

I don’t know who first said “everyone’s a critic,” but I think it’s a really stupid saying.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-geometry/2709/22 "1999-08-09T08:42:00Z")

</div>

Close, Pete, but no cigar.

The pencil test was advanced by either Dear Abbie or Ann Landers. It’s to determine whether a woman needs the support offered by a bra. If she can’t hold up a pencil, she doesn’t need one.

* * *

**R** anger **J** eff  
\*The Idol of American Youth \*

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 1999, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-geometry/2709/23 "1999-08-22T22:10:00Z")

</div>

\<HTML\>

\<HEAD\>  
\<META HTTP-EQUIV=“Content-Type” CONTENT=“text/html;CHARSET=iso-8859-1”\>  
\<TITLE\>Breast Appreciator’s Stare Factor Chart\</TITLE\>  
\</HEAD\>

\<BODY TEXT="#FFFFFF" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"\>

\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\>Well, I’ve done a little investigate on bra sizing in the  
Penney’s catalog, and learned the basics about boob geometry.\</FONT\>\</P\>  
\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\>Bust size is taken through the fullest part of the breast.  
Then you measure either (1) the rib cage though the armpits, or (2) the rib cage  
underneath the bottom of the breasts, and add 5 inches (the theory seems to be that  
the rib cage is 5 inches smaller under the breasts than it is through the armpits).  
The difference indicates cup size, where AA = 0 difference, DDD = 6 inches difference.\</FONT\>\</P\>

\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\>The primary visual clue of how big breasts **appear**  
to be is how far out they hang over the rib cage underneath the breasts. Since we’re  
talking elliptical geometry here (sort of), and since the geometry of that ellipse  
is probably variable as well, the only real way to measure it is the **ratio**  
of the bust measurement to the rib cage underneath them.\</FONT\>\</P\>

\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\>I’ve prepared a little chart below to show this. Bust measurement  
is down the left, cup size across. The numbers in the middle are the **percentage  
larger** that the bust measurement is to the rib cage underneath. Expressed mathematically  
the formula is:\</FONT\>\</P\>  
\<BLOCKQUOTE\>

\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\>difference between bust & rib cage underneath/rib cage  
underneath,\</FONT\>\</P\>

\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\>\*\*OR \*\*(bust-(bust-5-cup size))/(bust-5-cup size)\</FONT\>\</P\>

\</BLOCKQUOTE\>

\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\>Furthermore, after considerable fiddling around with different  
schemes, I came up with what I call Stare Factor ratings. I created 7 bands (since  
there are 7 cup sizes) that were roughly equal, with “Average” being the  
widest, and the extremes being the smallest. Note that this system debunks a lot  
of misconceptions about breast size. 48DD ain’t nothing special, but 28C is.\</FONT\>\</P\>  
\<TABLE BORDER=“1” WIDTH=“100%” BGCOLOR="#BBBBBB"\>  
\<TR\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“28”\>\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“35”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\> **AA** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“37”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\> **A** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“62”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\> **B** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“57”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\> **C** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“55”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\> **D** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“36”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\> **DD** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“34”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\> **DDD** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“46”\>\</TD\>  
\</TR\>  
\<TR\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“28”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\> **28** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“35”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#006600"\> **22** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“37”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#000000"\> **27** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“62”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#006600"\> **33** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“57”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#006600"\> **40** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“55”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#0000DD"\> **47** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“36”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#DD0000"\> **56** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“34”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#DD0000"\> **65** \</FONT\>  
\</TD\>  
\<TD WIDTH=“46” ROWSPAN=“4”\>  
\<P ALIGN=“CENTER”\>\<FONT COLOR="#DD0000"\> **SF 6** \</FONT\>\</P\>

```
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#DD0000"&gt; **Huge** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
&lt;/TR&gt;
&lt;TR&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="28"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#000000"&gt; **29** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="35"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#006600"&gt; **21** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="37"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#000000"&gt; **26** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="62"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#000000"&gt; **32** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="57"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#006600"&gt; **38** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="55"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#0000DD"&gt; **45** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="36"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#DD0000"&gt; **53** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="34"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#DD0000"&gt; **61** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
&lt;/TR&gt;
&lt;TR&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="28"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#000000"&gt; **30** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="35"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#006600"&gt; **20** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="37"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#000000"&gt; **25** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="62"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#000000"&gt; **30** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="57"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#006600"&gt; **36** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="55"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#0000DD"&gt; **43** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="36"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#0000DD"&gt; **50** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="34"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#DD0000"&gt; **58** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
&lt;/TR&gt;
&lt;TR&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="28"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#000000"&gt; **31** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="35"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#0000DD"&gt; **19** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="37"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#006600"&gt; **24** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="62"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#000000"&gt; **29** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="57"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#006600"&gt; **35** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="55"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#006600"&gt; **41** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="36"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#0000DD"&gt; **48** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="34"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#DD0000"&gt; **55** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
&lt;/TR&gt;
&lt;TR&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="28"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#000000"&gt; **32** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="35"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#0000DD"&gt; **19** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="37"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#006600"&gt; **23** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="62"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#000000"&gt; **28** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="57"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#006600"&gt; **33** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="55"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#006600"&gt; **39** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="36"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#0000DD"&gt; **45** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="34"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#0000DD"&gt; **52** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="46" ROWSPAN="6"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#0000DD"&gt; **SF 5** &lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/P&gt;

		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#0000DD"&gt; **Very large** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
&lt;/TR&gt;
&lt;TR&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="28"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#000000"&gt; **33** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="35"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#0000DD"&gt; **18** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="37"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#006600"&gt; **22** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="62"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#000000"&gt; **27** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="57"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#000000"&gt; **32** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="55"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#006600"&gt; **38** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="36"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#0000DD"&gt; **43** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="34"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#0000DD"&gt; **50** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
&lt;/TR&gt;
&lt;TR&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH="28"&gt;
		&lt;P ALIGN="CENTER"&gt;&lt;FONT COLOR="#000000"&gt; **34** &lt;/FONT&gt;
	&lt;/TD&gt;
	&lt;TD WIDTH
```

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