Re: Bass clarinet fingering chart

[M Watts]

[Off topic]

Mike Solomon wrote:
> 5) I read that the biblical definition of pi is 3 (1 Kings 7:23).
>   
1) The Bible makes no such claim.  1 Kings 7:23 apparently describes a 
temple object with a circumference of 10 and a diameter of 30.   It's 
perfectly correct to state measurements only to the number of 
significant figures necessary for the application in question, in this 
case description of the temple.  As maths people know, `10' is accurate 
to two significant figures for any value from 9.5 to 10.5; `30' for any 
value from 29.5 to 30.5.

An implied rounding of pi to 3 introduces a margin of 4.7% error 
(because 0.14/3 = 4.7%); we all accept greater inaccuracies in everyday 
life without any drama.

2) Or, if you insist that biblical authors were too stupid to round off 
figures, take a closer look at the text -- the vessel's brim flared 
outwards (v. 26); the `10' measures from brim to brim (v. 23).  The `30' 
refers to the outer diameter of the main part of the vessel (below the 
the flared brim), measured with a taut string line.

>    In guile, (angle -1) returns pi accurate to 14 decimal places.
>   
Good for guile; but any decimal expression of pi remains an approximation.