Word: pi

Responses

1. 

   jeddatlh April 12, 2019

   Not tau? Surely the circle constant should be defined by the circle's radius, not its diameter.

   1. 

      Rhona July 1, 2020

      "Surely" why? The arguments for preferring tau even in Earth mathematics are not compelling, and when working with real-world objects in pre-standardised societies (which is where mathematics has its ultimate origins), measuring the diameter of a circular object is far more straightforward than measuring its radius, so it's more likely that pi would be developed first. My vote is with pi.

2. 

   Luciano Montanaro April 19, 2019

   I also vote for tau. One or the other are needed, but it could have gone either way, and it is arguable 2pi (tau) would have been a better choice.

3. 

   SItlha May 18, 2020

   It could also be the reciprocal of pi or tau (why the ratio of circumference to diameter rather than the ratio of diameter to circumference?).

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