Day Pi Became 3.2: Solving Squaring the Circle Problem

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers around the legislative attempt to redefine the value of pi, specifically the proposal to set it at 3.2 instead of the mathematically accepted 3.14159. This bill, which received a 67 to 0 vote in the legislature, was ultimately rejected by the state Senate, highlighting the tension between mathematical principles and legislative action. The conversation also references historical parallels to the suppression of scientific thought, drawing connections to the church's historical stance against dissent.

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  • Familiarity with legislative processes and their implications on scientific standards
  • Knowledge of historical conflicts between science and religion
  • Awareness of mathematical approximations such as 22/7 and 16/5
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Interesting take on solving the Squaring the Circle problem enshrined in law:

http://pulse.edf.com/en/day-pi-became-3-2-instead-3-14159/?utm_source=OutbrainInter&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Trafic
 
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Mathematics news on Phys.org
Or this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pie_(song )
 
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\frac{22}{7}, \frac{16}{5}, or \frac{7^7}{4^9}, it's all the same.
 
jedishrfu said:
Interesting take on solving the Squaring the Circle problem enshrined in law:

http://pulse.edf.com/en/day-pi-became-3-2-instead-3-14159/?utm_source=OutbrainInter&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Trafic
The "interesting take" is that the very site you link to say it was NOT "enshrined in law". such a bill was introduced into the state legistature but voted down.
 
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HallsofIvy said:
The "interesting take" is that the very site you link to say it was NOT "enshrined in law". such a bill was introduced into the state legistature but voted down.

I stand corrected if not by spellchecker then by HallsOfIvy. But it did get 67 to 0 vote in the legislature but was killed in the state Senate so I guess it was half a law.
 
Legislation to force a mathematical concept into law.. Scary.
Reminds me, that there was a time one did not go against the church for fear of torture and or death.
 
Story told by Numberphile:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFNjA9LOPsg
 

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