- #1
moe darklight
- 409
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OK, so I understand mathematically why one can't square a circle, but when I do the following thought experiment I can't see how one could not square the circle:
- I tie a string at both ends and lay it on a table so that it forms a perfect circle.
- Now I place four pins, at equal distances from each other, so that the center of the square they form is also at the center of the circle formed by the string.
- Now I start moving the pins apart in small increments, but in equal increments, so that they remain at equal distances.
- Eventually all four pins will be touching the string (circle), and as I keep moving them apart, they will begin to distort the shape of the string.
- Finally they will reach a limit, at this point, they will have distorted the string into a square, which should have the exact same area as that of the initial circle.
I don't know if it makes sense written down so here I drew it: http://38.114.207.18/980826fdf52d0d9c4e1f36c9428704cc4g.jpg"
I assume then that what they mean is that, though it is impossible to mathematically determine the exact distance by which those pins are separated, it is not physically impossible to square a circle, right? or am I missing something.
- I tie a string at both ends and lay it on a table so that it forms a perfect circle.
- Now I place four pins, at equal distances from each other, so that the center of the square they form is also at the center of the circle formed by the string.
- Now I start moving the pins apart in small increments, but in equal increments, so that they remain at equal distances.
- Eventually all four pins will be touching the string (circle), and as I keep moving them apart, they will begin to distort the shape of the string.
- Finally they will reach a limit, at this point, they will have distorted the string into a square, which should have the exact same area as that of the initial circle.
I don't know if it makes sense written down so here I drew it: http://38.114.207.18/980826fdf52d0d9c4e1f36c9428704cc4g.jpg"
I assume then that what they mean is that, though it is impossible to mathematically determine the exact distance by which those pins are separated, it is not physically impossible to square a circle, right? or am I missing something.
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