Quite a furore over quite a sensible idea:

'Tau day' marked by opponents of maths constant pi

The mathematical constant pi is under threat from a group of detractors who will be marking "Tau Day" on Tuesday.


I certainly can't count the number of times I've had to scribble "2 pi" for various calculations. We have the abbreviation of omega for "2 pi f" for ac (electrical, radio) calculations. Tau looks to be another useful and obvious example...


Keep searchin',
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
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Further thoughts:

Where/when was it in American that some state voted 'pi' to be 'rationalised' to equal exactly 3 so as to 'simplify' calculations?

And supposedly, the military use 'Gradians' for circular measure where there are 400 gradians instead of 360 degrees. Are gradians actually in daily use anywhere?

Any other examples of bureaucrats getting their fingers burned (or themselves crucified) for bureaucratic dabbling in mathematics?...


Keep searchin',
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

How about 1 and 3/5 (that's 1.6) for phi (the golden ratio.)

Pi and Phi are such naturally occurring ratios that keep popping up that those of us who teach Math are ruded by anything other less accurate than maybe a three decimal approximation left over from the glorious days of the slide rule.