[TheForge] Indiana Pi

[Peter Hirst]

I thought this might be a good point to dissassociate the discussion HABA

What Indiana almost passed was

"The ratio of the diameter and circumference is as five-fourths to four"


Note that:

5/4 = 1.25
4/1.25 = 3.2

The bill went on to reserve the use of this "new mathematical truth"  solely 
to the State of Indiana, all others being required to pay royalties to the 
State, nearly establishing the interesting precedent of a State creating for 
itself  a federal patent in a  law of nature.  Which I suppose explains both 
why the Indianapolis Motor  Speedway  could only have been built where it 
is, and why it could not be circular.

And which  I am sure is also the source of the ancient standard  of 
technical precision, "Close enough for government work."

Keziah



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Spencer" <mspencer at tallships.ca>
To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 12:04 AM
Subject: [TheForge] Re: HABAiron on flickr


>
>> The Indiana Blacksmithing Association has about 200
>> members and less than 50 that admit to having email.
>
> Wellllll, it *was* the Indiana State Legislature who, in 1897, nearly
> passed a bill declaring that pi = 3.2.  The House approved it
> unanimously.  The Senate, after consulting with a math professor, only
> "postponed further consideration of the bill indefinitely".  Presumably
> it's still on the table and could be resurrected for debate should the
> Luddite Index in Indiana rise sufficiently high.
>
>
> ;-)
> - Mike
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