As today tauday is tuesday,
the Angle programming language now knows tau:
⦠ assert tau / 2 = pi
True
Happy Tau Day
11–20 of 128 posts
Re: Happy Tau Day
#12I just wish instead of celebrating these days on arbitrary month/day combinations, that we'd instead use some physics or math based use of them. Pi day should be when we've gone half way around the Sun and Tau, New Years Day.
Multiply the current dates by 2 and to a very near approximation (~1% off) that's what you get :P
Re: Happy Tau Day
#13The choice between Pi vs. Tau is completely arbitrary and should be based on minimizing the friction of use. Everyone knows Pi, few knows about Tau. I see no point in spending any more energy than that on this kind of nonsense decisions.
> Tau is completely arbitrary and should be based on minimizing the friction of use.
Isn't that what the proponents of Tau also argue for?
Re: Happy Tau Day
#14It's just the same useless argument every year. Just use what you want. I've been taught pi since secondary school. I understand it well and can use it effectively. Never have I sat there and thought, "if only there was a shortcut to multiplying this by 2". There's whole sites, videos and movements to get tau popular. I just personally don't understand the point.
Re: Happy Tau Day
#15While choice between tau and pi is arbitrary from mathematical point, things like pedagogy, notational simplicity and aesthetics matter.
The reason why I think π is probably better choice is because small multiples of constant are cognitively easier to process than fractions. 2π is easier to write and see as single object than τ/2. All we need to do is to make slight cognitive adjustment and think and teach 2π as a number instead of 2×π.
Re: Happy Tau Day
#16While choice between tau and pi is arbitrary from mathematical point, things like pedagogy, notational simplicity and aesthetics matter. The reason why I think π is probably better choice is because small multiples of constant are cognitively easier to process than fractions. 2π is easier to write and see as single object than τ/2. All we need to do is to make slight cognitive adjustment and think and teach 2π as a n…
Treating 2π as a single entity is probably the best option for now. Not sure if formulas like 1/2 (2π) r^2 will ever catch on, but in more complicated formulas it's probably better to not simplify things like (2π)^4 / 6 to 2^3 π^4 / 3.
Re: Happy Tau Day
#17Re: Happy Tau Day
#18[deleted]
Re: Happy Tau Day
#19It's just the same useless argument every year. Just use what you want. I've been taught pi since secondary school. I understand it well and can use it effectively. Never have I sat there and thought, "if only there was a shortcut to multiplying this by 2". There's whole sites, videos and movements to get tau popular. I just personally don't understand the point.
That's exactly the issue. You are thinking in terms of pi, so it might be hard to see from a different perspective.
It's like using a slightly off abstraction for a concept. At first you have to make a small effort to hold it in your head, then at some point it's committed and you can manipulate the concept directly.
Re: Happy Tau Day
#20While choice between tau and pi is arbitrary from mathematical point, things like pedagogy, notational simplicity and aesthetics matter. The reason why I think π is probably better choice is because small multiples of constant are cognitively easier to process than fractions. 2π is easier to write and see as single object than τ/2. All we need to do is to make slight cognitive adjustment and think and teach 2π as a n…
Mathematically, tau is clearly superior, since it represents a full circle. The question is whether the gain is big enough compared to the trouble of introducing a new constant. It's not like pi is going to disappear any time soon.