Self-described “mathemusician” Vi Hart released a video on Pi Day arguing that “Pi Is Wrong” (shock, outrage!) Not that the mathematical constant (3.141592653…) is incorrect, mind you, but that a number equal to twice pi makes much more sense as a constant for use in equations and so on. It would be called tau.
Hart is just one voice in a mathematical uprising to replace ancient, venerable pi with revolutionary, enlightened tau (they even have a Tau Manifesto and competing Tau Day.) Hopefully this war of mathematical constants will play out on the Internet and not in raging gun battles in math departments around the world. In the meanwhile, my money is on pi and the legions of trigonometry teachers ready to take up arms in its defense.
via The Mary Sue
See Also:
– What Pi Sounds Like
– Trigonometree
