[net.math] Near-miss equalities

cscussel@ihuxq.UUCP (08/23/83)

OK, time to unload statistics and get on to some serious mathematical fun.
Consider "equations" that fall into the category "close but no cigar"
(CBNC?). For example,

		tan(125/99) = pi

		exp(pi*sqrt(163) = xxxxxxxxx.99999999999950....

Things which have no reason to work, but are close. Knuth in Volume 1
mentions that the sum of a number's common and natural logs is close
to its log base 2 ( minorly useful fact to computer people). 
Anyone have any personal favorites?

				Chris Scussel
				Bell Labs
				Naperville, Illinois
				ihuxq!cscussel