Erika asked for math help last night; good times. It was mostly word problems with setting up and solving algebraic equations. There was also some basic geometry, such as calculating the area of a cylinder. While solving the latter we found that the answer was 54.5π. She reached for the calculator. I told her there was no need, we were done.
“Dad, we have to get to a number, not a dessert.”
You can’t get to a number, pi is irrational.”
“Maybe when you were a kid but we just use 3.14.”
“OK, but the answer won’t be precise. 54.5π is right.”
“I think my math teacher knows more about it than you and she says just to use 3.14.”
“That’s fine but I’m just saying it’s a proxy, and if she wants you to use it, that’s fine, but I want you to know that it really is 54.5π. Numbers that were irrational when I was a kid are still irrational.”
“Yeah, and tube socks are still in fashion. Double green stripes are all the rage. In math these days pi is just 3.14.”
Maybe it was irrational of me to try to win this debate.
1 comment:
Happy pi day! Erika's math stories are so good.
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