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π = 3 (sometimes) for Nobel laureate

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Re: π = 3 (sometimes) for Nobel laureate

#5
Hmm, whilst it's true physicists often simplify equations to really understand the problem, I can't think of a variable in quantum mechanics we "don't know to within 2 orders of magnitude". Especially one called alpha, which usually denotes the fine structure constant, which we know to better than 1 in a billion...

Anyone have some thoughts on what it could be, if true?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine-structure_constant

Re: π = 3 (sometimes) for Nobel laureate

#7
post #3

This guy sounds like every microelectronics prof ever. :) I took that to heart when doing the exams and it make the impossible possible.

I really enjoyed it when my EE professors would simply erase components of a circuit diagram if they didn't matter and they made things complicated. I think that had an impact on my approach to solving problems.

Re: π = 3 (sometimes) for Nobel laureate

#10
I got exactly the same lesson in almost similar situation, but from a guy who was not even close to (someone who is close to) a Nobel's prize. He did a sum of a problem from the test using a small constants reference book and his head. Despite the numerous simplifications in the calculation, error of his result was less then 5%.
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