Death of Pi

Ironclad · #1 by **Ironclad** » Jun 29, 2011 1:17 am

I tried to find an amusing Pie-related title for this, I really did.

The mathematical constant pi is under threat from a group of detractors who will be marking "Tau Day" on Tuesday.
Tau Day revellers suggest a constant called tau should take its place: twice as large as pi, or about 6.28 - hence the 28 June celebration.

Tau proponents say that for many problems in maths, tau makes more sense and makes calculations easier.
Not all fans of maths agree, however, and pi's rich history means it will be a difficult number to unseat.

"I like to describe myself as the world's leading anti-pi propagandist," said Michael Hartl, an educator and former theoretical physicist.

"When I say pi is wrong, it doesn't have any flaws in its definition - it is what you think it is, a ratio of circumference to diameter. But circles are not about diameters, they're about radii; circles are the set of all the points a given distance - a radius - from the centre," Dr Hartl explained to BBC News.

Dr Hartl is passionate about the effort, but even he is surprised by the fervent nature of some tau adherents.

"What's amazing is the 'conversion experience': people find themselves almost violently angry at pi. They feel like they've been lied to their whole lives, so it's amazing how many people express their displeasure with pi in the strongest possible terms - often involving profanity.

"I don't condone any actual violence - that would be really bizarre, wouldn't it?"

The Tau, if you missed it is the ratio of circumference to radius of a circle.

The Tau Manifesto.

Happy Tau day. Are you a convert yet, brothers and sisters?

Gila Guerilla · #2 by **Gila Guerilla** » Jun 29, 2011 1:41 am

π schmi, cor τ . . .

Anyway memorise this: C = ½ τ D

Whoops: "circles are not about diameters, they're about radii"

OK then: C = τ R

Arcanyn · #3 by **Arcanyn** » Jun 29, 2011 6:42 am

Forget pi and tau, it's the smiley face that's going to take over.

The smiley face is equal to pi/2.

So D = 4 :smile:

r

and

A = 2 :smile:

r^2

The smiley face has a number of advantages over both pi and tau. Firstly, it sends out a positive vibe, thereby ensuring that more people will take up mathematics. Secondly, its reciprocal is easy to remember: 1/ :smile:

=

. And finally, the smiley face actually resembles a circle, whereas the symbols for both pi and tau look nothing like a circle!

Bribase · #4 by **Bribase** » Jun 29, 2011 7:41 am

Theres an interview with Dr. Michael Hartl as part of Are We Alone, the SETI podcast here:

http://media.rawvoice.com/arewealone/tr ... -05-23.mp3

Scroll to 28:44 to find where it starts.

Benjammin · #5 by **Benjammin** » Jul 18, 2011 12:34 pm

I've come up with a better symbol for Tau. It kind of looks like a combination of the number two and the Pi symbol.

LucidFlight · #6 by **LucidFlight** » Jul 18, 2011 12:55 pm

Benjammin wrote:I've come up with a better symbol for Tau. It kind of looks like a combination of the number two and the Pi symbol.

Are you able to produce a digital-media/interweb representation for us to have a look? (Please.)

Oh, and welcome to the forum. :cheers:

sweitzen · #7 by **sweitzen** » Jul 18, 2011 8:02 pm

For a moment I feared Governor Perry had introduced a resolution declaring pi = 3.

Ironclad · #8 by **Ironclad** » Jul 18, 2011 9:09 pm

JayWilson wrote:
Benjammin wrote:I've come up with a better symbol for Tau. It kind of looks like a combination of the number two and the Pi symbol.

Are you able to produce a digital-media/interweb representation for us to have a look? (Please.)

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

Yes, 'Jammin, this is your assignment tonight. :popcorn:

gosh, I am dishing out quite a lot of homework today!

Benjammin · #9 by **Benjammin** » Jul 19, 2011 8:06 am

JayWilson wrote:Oh, and welcome to the forum.

Ironclad wrote:
JayWilson wrote:
Are you able to produce a digital-media/interweb representation for us to have a look? (Please.)

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

Yes, 'Jammin, this is your assignment tonight.

gosh, I am dishing out quite a lot of homework today!

After many hours of research and development I have successfully my unique solution , and it looks like this: 2π

This symbol is currently in an open beta pre-alpha working draft state of development so use at your own risk :whistle:

virphen · **#10** by **virphen** » Jul 19, 2011 8:55 am

Benjammin wrote:

After many hours of research and development I have successfully my unique solution , and it looks like this: 2π

This symbol is currently in an open beta pre-alpha working draft state of development so use at your own risk

That seems rather insensitive to bald people. :coffee:

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