Visualizing Pi (π)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Today%27s_featured_picture_(animation)/January_20%2C_2007

by vp • 17 years ago

48 15 17 years ago

en.wikipedia.org

tfh• 17 years ago

I don't know if this visualization is really useful for those who know that

  circumference = diameter * pi

cracki• 17 years ago

the visualization isn't meant for those who know that.

zackattack• 17 years ago

It rolls so quickly, I would find it difficult for anyone who doesn't know this to grasp the fact. It took me a second, and I'm awesome at basic mathematics. BTW, diameter here = 1.

Anyone else thought that π(n) was referring to a graph of the density of prime numbers? :P

nopassrecover• 17 years ago

If you didn't know that, HN probably isn't the right place to start learning it.

allenbrunson• 17 years ago

for me, the comment i'm replying to shows a red dot, just to the right of the up/down arrows. i've seen a couple of other comments with such a dot. anybody know what it means?

pmichaud• 17 years ago

I think the point is that even if you "know" that, you might not "get" it intuitively. This animation is supposed to help you "get" it, and even though it's a bit too fast, I think it does a great job.

jonp2• 17 years ago

I wonder why they chose a wheel with seven spokes. I don't recall ever seeing one with an odd number.

DougBTX• 17 years ago

http://images.google.com/images?q=seven%20spoke%20wheel&...

andreyf• 17 years ago

Wheels with an odd number have less variance in how much weight they can support along their edge. An even number of spokes makes a wheel with "weaker" points midway between the spokes, where the wheel won't hold as much weight.

jonp2• 17 years ago

Thanks. For some reason I was thinking of old-fashioned wooden wheels rather than modern car wheels. I guess someone figured out the physics at some point and there was no looking back.

dmoney• 17 years ago

Pi = cheese wrapped in sausage.

Visualizing Pi (π)

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