Lars Kristan wrote: > 3.14... is to a circle what 4 is to a square. It is the relationship between > the diameter and the circumference.
No it is NOT, mathematically. The square whose Perimeter is 4 has diameter \sqrt 2. What is the "side" of a circle? It shows that the problem is so ingrained that it is almost invisible and that many people cannot imagine that \pi is not perfect. (Note however that the inscribed hexagon, six equilateral triangles of side 1, gives an immediate estimate that \newpi is greater than, and close to 6. (Thanks to Prof. Cherkaev) If the discussion must persist, I will wait to respond to such attempts to argue the mathematical point (which don't belong here. Observing your discussions, I do wonder if the participants recognize the responsibility of their influence upon ideas, through symbols (but it seems some may enjoy it too much.) Speaking of adding words to the dictionary, it did bring to mind the word "eumemics" which is to "memes" as eugenics is to genes. Anyway, the point being while a symbol such as "f" may not have a specific concept associated with it, \pi and \newpi do, important enough that broadcast of \pi to the heavens was supposed to prove our intelligence. They'll get a laugh. Yes, Pi IS the ratio of circumference to diameter, but that was the last time anyone ever saw or used diameter, \newpi is the circumference of the unit (radius) circle, which is used exclusively in mathematics. Hence all the MEANINGLESS 2s. My point was not that formulas involving 2 \pi are incorrect, but that they, and formulas derived by then separating the 2 and the \pi are not economical of meaning. To me it is like writing 2+2 instead of 4 everywhere, or changing the value of "Euler's other number" e. Lots of meaningless factors would follow. The fact that the number 2 appears in > many formulas does not make it bad. I even welcome it, because 2 pi is > something that stands out and immediately suggests circles and angles. You > can call it inertia, but you have to agree that "2x" is more special than > "Y". Well, it is to me anyway. > > > Anyway, good luck with the newpi efforts, and .... may the best pi win! ;) > > > Lars >
