Re: pi=3?
H. Paul Jacobson (hpj3@u.washington.edu)
Fri, 8 Mar 1996 15:50:43 -0800 (PST)On Fri, 8 Mar 1996, Scott A. Oakman wrote:
> > > I don't know about the legislature, but the biblical reference is 2 Chr
> > > 4:1-2, which says the "Bronze Sea" or laver in the courtyard of Solomon's
> > > Temple was 10 cubits "rim to rim" and 30 cubits in circumference. The
> > > ratio thus would be 3. The discrepancy from pi is generally explained by
> > > noting the rim to rim diameter was an internal measurement, while the
> > > circumference was external (so one could calculate the thickness of the
> > > laver). Or it might simply be round-off error.
> I think this is also an issue of urban legend...
That ultra-trustworthy :-) clearing house of all urban legends:
http://www.dsg.cs.tcd.ie/dsg_people/afcondon/AFU/ULs.html
OFFICIAL USENET ALT.FOLKLORE.URBAN FREQUENTLY POSTED LEGENDS
lists:
T = 100% scientific truth
Fb = believed false, but not conclusively proven
[T] *Indiana House Bill #246 of 1897 would've set pi=3.2, killed in
state Senate.
[Fb] Some state (e.g., Kansas) once considered a bill setting pi = 3.
Paul