[kenberg]

Although there have been folks who assert that Pi is 3 on Biblical grounds, that was not the case in Indiana (see the Wikepedia link given earlier). In the Indiana case it was some secular nut, and from what I have read it is not possible to even make sense out of what he says. It's far beyond wrong.

When I was a grad student I found a book in the library by one of these guys who had squared the circle, trisected the angle and so on. He had discovered where mathematicians had erred. While we square (a+ to get a^2+2ab+b^2 he observed that the correct formula was (a+^2 =a^2+2ab with no b^2 term. Once you accept this new formula many things fall into place. Due to the closed-mindedness of the mathematical community he was unable to get his result published but a wealthy enthusiast had these ideas distributed to mathematics libraries throughout the country.

I of course believe in freedom of the press but there are these temptations to make exceptions Some writings are not too dangerous or too shocking, just too stupid.

I see I have a conflict between math and the smileys. Just square a+b.

[barmar]

My company celebrates Pi Day every year by giving out free pie.

BTW, Pi Day is also Albert Einstein's birthday.

[Deanrover]

pi is

4/1 - 4/3 + 4/5 - 4/7 + 4/9 - 4/11 .............

Pretty cool hu?

[jdonn]

Deanrover, on Mar 21 2008, 03:14 AM, said:

pi is

4/1 - 4/3 + 4/5 - 4/7 + 4/9 - 4/11 .............

Pretty cool hu?

You should sign up for a class in Fourier Series, you would like it

[han]

On a more advanced note, Pi is also equal to pi + 1 - 1/2 - 1/4 - 1/8 - ...

[Deanrover]

jdonn, on Mar 21 2008, 04:28 PM, said:

Deanrover, on Mar 21 2008, 03:14 AM, said:

pi is

4/1 - 4/3 + 4/5 - 4/7 + 4/9 - 4/11 .............

Pretty cool hu?

You should sign up for a class in Fourier Series, you would like it

I like spectral analysis, which I believe is very very closely related.

[Echognome]

Deanrover, on Mar 21 2008, 12:14 AM, said:

pi is

4/1 - 4/3 + 4/5 - 4/7 + 4/9 - 4/11 .............

Pretty cool hu?

I think e rivals you there:

e^x = Sum((x^n)/n!) = 1 + x + x^2/2! + x^3/3! + ...

so e = e^1 = 1 + 1 + 1/2! + 1/3! + 1/4! + ...
= 1 + 1 + 1/2 + 1/6 + 1/24 + ....
= 2.718281828

[skjaeran]

Echognome, on Mar 21 2008, 11:07 PM, said:

so e = e^1 = 1 + 1 + 1/2! + 1/3! + 1/4! + ...
= 1 + 1 + 1/2 + 1/6 + 1/24 + ....
= 2.718281828

Those digits are easily remembered as 2.7 Ibsen Ibsen (Henrik Ibsen was born in 1828).

[Deanrover]

Echognome, on Mar 21 2008, 10:07 PM, said:

Deanrover, on Mar 21 2008, 12:14 AM, said:

pi is

4/1 - 4/3 + 4/5 - 4/7 + 4/9 - 4/11 .............

Pretty cool hu?

I think e rivals you there:

e^x = Sum((x^n)/n!) = 1 + x + x^2/2! + x^3/3! + ...

so e = e^1 = 1 + 1 + 1/2! + 1/3! + 1/4! + ...
= 1 + 1 + 1/2 + 1/6 + 1/24 + ....
= 2.718281828

e is probably my favorite number.

it's also (1 + 1/n) ^ n as n ------> infinity.

[kenberg]

No need to choose between pi and e. From Euler we have
1+e^(i pi) =0

Was it Laplace who argued that the above equation proves the existence of God? Please, I mention this as an amusing aside. I sincerely hope it does not lead to pro and con arguments on this issue.