Re:Rhind Mathematical Papyrus
by nextaccountic on Monday April 03, 2023 @01:54AM
(#35419038)
Tau is better for some equations (most of them?) and worse for some others. It would probably be a net positive to adopt it if you discount the huge chore of transitioning during decades. But what this fails to account is that most mathematicians regard 2pi as an important quantity on its own already; it's not a single symbol but it's close enough. So 2pi is expected to appear in many equations and any other value, like 3pi, looks fishy.
Really, the only problem with 2pi is that if you multiply it by a constant, it disappears. so people might write 2*2pi as 4pi. Sometimes you may not want to do that.
Anyway you don't need to fully transition to tau in order to benefit from it. Just like the planck constant has a reduced planck constant (which is probably more useful), and both are used, tau can be already used when it makes sense, without ever fully replacing pi.
Really, the only problem with 2pi is that if you multiply it by a constant, it disappears. so people might write 2*2pi as 4pi. Sometimes you may not want to do that.
Anyway you don't need to fully transition to tau in order to benefit from it. Just like the planck constant has a reduced planck constant (which is probably more useful), and both are used, tau can be already used when it makes sense, without ever fully replacing pi.