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Visualizing Pi (π)

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Re: Visualizing Pi (π)

#11

Post by andreyf »

jonp wrote: post #5

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

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.

Re: Visualizing Pi (π)

#14

Post by jonp »

andreyf wrote: post #11
jonp wrote: post #5

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

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.

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.

Re: Visualizing Pi (π)

#16

Post by allenbrunson »

cracki wrote: post #3
tfh wrote: post #2

I don't know if this visualization is really useful for those who know that circumference = diameter * pi

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

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?

Re: Visualizing Pi (π)

#17

Post by superkarn »

allenbrunson wrote: post #16
cracki wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

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?

pg's experiement http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=844979

Re: Visualizing Pi (π)

#18

Post by chriskelley »

allenbrunson wrote: post #16
cracki wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

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?

It means the comment has reached the "good" threshold and has 5+ upvotes. See: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=846123
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