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The reason that 22/7 is used to approximate pi is because it is convenient to calculate using a slide rule.
by jscipione 14y ago
The reason that 22/7 is used to approximate pi is because it is convenient to calculate using a slide rule.
- Someone 14y agoI would think most slide rules have a marker for pi that make this even easier.
- lutusp 14y agoGiven how slide rules work, there would have to be a great number of marks, for the same reason that there cannot be only one unique ratio of integers that approximates Pi.
- Someone 14y agoI do not think you have thought that through. You need only one mark for PI on every part of a sliderule to multiply or divide by pi. See for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Slide_rule_cursor.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Slide_rule_cursor.jpg
- lutusp 14y ago> I do not think you have thought that through. My remark was only in the context of the present conversation, where Pi is representable by the ratios of various integers. I used a lot of slide rules during my years as a NASA engineer, but none of those I owned had marks for physical constants -- too bad, because it's a very good idea.