Math wars: Debate sparks anti-pi day
It may not be marked on your holiday calendar but today, June 28, is noted for being ?Tau Day?, at least among strident detractors of pi, the ratio of a circle's diameter to its circumference, BBC News is reporting. Proponents of Tau Day suggest a constant called tau should replace pi, which comes close to twice the value of pi, or about 6.28 - hence the 28 June celebration. Fans say that for many problems in math, tau makes more sense and makes calculations easier.Not all math geeks agree, however, and pi has a long, rich history which means it will be a difficult number to unseat. ?I like to describe myself as the world's leading anti-pi propagandist,? said Michael Hartl, an educator and former theoretical physicist, to BBC.?When I say pi is wrong, it doesn't have any flaws in its definition - it is what you think it is, a ratio of circumference to diameter. But circles are not about diameters, they're about radii; circles are the set of all the points a given distance - a radius - from the center? Dr. Hart
Math wars: Debate sparks anti-pi day
(PhysOrg.com) -- A controversial debate in the math world has led to celebrations today by opponents of the mathematical constant pi.
Wed 29 Jun 11 from Phys.org
Opponents of pi mark special day
A movement to replace the mathematical constant pi with tau - a constant twice as large, or 6.28 - celebrates "Tau Day" on 28 June.
Tue 28 Jun 11 from BBC News
On National Tau Day, Pi Under Attack
Pi, the circle constant in mathematics, is under attack, The Advertiser reported Tuesday, with an underground movement rounding up support for its successor, Tau.
Tue 28 Jun 11 from FOXNews
Why mathematicians are campaigning for pi to be replaced with alternate value tau
It has long been regarded as the most important number in the world - but now mathematicians are suggesting that pi may have had its day.
Tue 28 Jun 11 from Daily Mail
Pi Is Wrong! Mathematicians Declare Today 'Tau Day'
It may not be marked on your holiday calendar but today, June 28, is noted for being ?Tau Day?, at least among strident detractors of pi, the ratio of a circle's diameter to its circumference, ...
Tue 28 Jun 11 from RedOrbit
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