A contractor made a small error in laying the foundation of a building. Instead of being level, the foundation was at an angle of two degrees. After the building was built, the entire structure leaned dangerously to the left and had to be torn down. What does this building demonstrate about systems in general?

So even if it is a tiny degree it can grow and grow into something very big.

For example let’s say you take a measurement of the angle your sofa is and you mistake by a few degrees. No problem! You will only be a few micro centimetres off.

But if you are a few degrees of in measuring the angle of a nearby star you can be as much as a few million light years off because the angle grows and grows by the time you travel that distance.

So basically even a tiny amount can be catastrophic at a big scale