betsy@dartvax.UUCP (Betsy Hanes Perry) (03/27/84)
Sigh. Okay, here's the real dope on Pi := 3.
It was ATTEMPTED in Indiana, in (I believe) the 1920's.
It was NOT done for any Biblical (lessee, 30 cubits over 10..)
or practical (think of all the money saved on circular fences!) reason.
Here's the straight dope: A cranky
Indiana mathematician presented a 'proof' to the Indiana legislature
that Pi = 3, and hinted that enormous profits could accrue
to the state from using the 'correct' formula. The Indiana Legislature
of the time, being composed wholly of non-mathematicians, thought
it sounded like a keen idea, and sent a bill to the appropriate committee.
At this point, public opinion rebelled. It became clear that Indiana
would only make itself a laughingstock by passing the bill, and it
languished in committee forever.
I got all the above from the 'Indiana Mathematical Monthly' of several
years back; any Hoosier mathematician should probably know the journal
(I almost certainly have the title wrong) and be able to point you
to the correct article.
An ex-Hoosier now,
--
Betsy Perry
UUCP: {decvax|linus|cornell}!dartvax!betsy
CSNET: betsy@dartmouth
ARPA: betsy%dartmouth@csnet-relayrfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES) (03/28/84)
Don't feel so bad about Indiana. I understand that the law (Pi=3.0) was on the books of the great state of Louisiana for years. Is it still there? hound!rfg :-) :-) :-) . :-|