Include the constant "Tau", the circle constant

[jdunham]

Please add the circle constant tau, to the Math & Scientific Constants palette.  Happy Tau day!  (see more at http://tauday.com/)

[dthor]

To all those who follow the Tau Manifesto:

In lower-level mathematics, yes, sometimes you might not have to write a "* 2" in your equations. However, when you get into QM, device physics, and higher mathematics, you'll instead start needing to add "/ 2" to your equations. The net difference in the number of twos you need to write when using Tau or Pi is the same, it just ends up being a matter of preference: do you prefer to multiply by 2 or divide by 2?

I am strongly against Tau *replacing* the Pi constant (yes, I know that's not the Idea). I'm weakly against Tau being added because, as Darren said, 2Pi already exists... If we must add it, then let's add more fundamental constants and put them all in their own little section.

[AristosQueue (NI)]

I don't think it should replace the Pi constant, just the 2*Pi constant.

[jdunham]

@dthor, your point underscores the rationale for making the change.  The number of people who are forced to learn about pi in geometry, trigonometry, and elementary calculus is 3-4 orders of magnitude more than the number of people who study advanced physics and esoteric math.

 It's not about a preference for one formula versus another, it's about improving the way people understand math.  

@AQ: thanks for the support!

[smercurio_fc]

So if this gets done does this mean we get to have Pluto back as a planet? You know, for those of us who grew up with Pi and Pluto as a planet.

[X.]

Pi was a planet? Or do you mean +Tau?

[altenbach]

I thought Pluto was a dog.....

[smercurio_fc]

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@altenbach wrote:
I thought Pluto was a dog.....

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And the Roman god of the underworld as well. Now if the Tau manifesto had suggested calling 2*Pi Pluto (and thereby called it the Pluto manifest) I would be all for it. To be honest, I don't really care either way. Even about Pluto being changed to a dwarf planet. I'm just having fun being silly. Probably because of the splitting headache that I've had all day.

[JÞB]

I'll chime in-  with a cautionary statement from a non-mathematician.  While there are good arguments for replacing pi with tau to simplify wave functions and radian based measures in multiple dimentions. I cannot agree with the tau manifetos arguments that it improves a natural understaning of math.  In fact it detracts from this understanding.  pi and the triginomic functions relate to and are derived from the study of triangles the sum of the angles in a triangle is 180Deg or pi radians and thus pi was adopted as the base unit of these functions and is useful in explaining all polygons- in fact it brings cohesion to the entire class of polygons by discrbing them as any number of triangles (e.g a triagle occupies exactly 1/2 of the area of a rectangle of height =H and base= B A=12/H*B being the area of a triagle)  and extends to a relationship between two dimentional areas and n dimentional spaces.  A circle contains any right triagle with Hypotinus of D and its image transposed across the hypotenus and 2*Pi distinctly expresses that polygons and circles share commonality as objects with area and can therefore be treated similarly with similar functions.  Substitution of tau demotes the entire fields of geometry and topology to discriptions of halves of things for line objects and whole things for objects having a curve element.  The concept of dimentionality becomes blurred and blocks progress of concept formation of higher math based on grasping the similaritys of curves and lines as bounds ironically the entire concept on bounds becomes fuzzy (which - if fact- may be the correct natural case as expressed by Shrodenger but I digress).

I'd revisit my anti-tau stand if tau - pi arguments in acadamia progress to tau becoming adopted by a recognized body after reviewing the findings of the body.

-Ceres got "Plutoed" too and much longer ago so circles and triangles may get redefined.

[AristosQueue (NI)]

> -Ceres got "Plutoed" too and much longer ago so circles and triangles may get redefined.

That would be bad. We would have to be very careful when differentiating "Platonic circles" from "Plutonic circles." 🙂

[Darin.K]

With jokes like that, you'll certainly be very familiar with all things "platonic"....