Mathematical Problems, 3A - The Value of Pi

Back when I was doing my A-levels, I remember learning about how it's possible to evaluate pi in various ways, one of which was through calculus.  I can only remember the basics, and I'm sure I can't recall how to do it now - at least not without some help!

The value of pi is the ratio of the circumference of a circle (the distance all the way around the outside of the circle) divided by the diameter (the straight-line distance from one side to the other, through the centre).  It's been known historically to be about 3, but I'm going to make some approximations from first principles.

Firstly, drawing a square around a circle, so that the square touches the circle.  See the diagram above, with the square ABCD around the circle.

If the diameter of the circle is d, then the perimeter of the square is 4d.  We can see by inspection that the square's perimeter is longer than the circle's circumference, and we've called the circumference pi d.  Therefore, we know that pi is less than 4.

It's not a dramatic result, I know, but it's a start!

Next, we need to look at setting a minimum value for pi, and we'll look at this next time.

My Series on Determining The Value Of Pi

1. An upper limit on the value of pi
2. A lower limit on the value of pi
3. Approximating pi by sampling
4. Approximating pi using an infinite polygon

Mathematical Problems, 2 - The Tetrahedron Path

In this article, I want to provide another puzzle, and the solution to it (you'll need to look closely at the diagram below to understand the solution).  This follows on from my previous post, which was a puzzle about a spider and a cube.  The spider was a mathematical spider, and she wanted to walk around all 12 edges of a cube, in both directions (i.e. from left to right and then right to left) in a single continuous path, without getting stuck or having to turn around completely.  In the original puzzle (devised in a BBC Micro maths adventure game), you had to tell the spider to turn either left or right at each corner.  Now I'm a little older, I use a pen and paper and a diagram...

Following on from the cube, I set myself the challenge of doing the same for a tetrahedron.  I can't say if it was significantly harder or easier, perhaps a little easier with fewer edges to follow, but here's the solution.  The path through the letters goes along each edge twice, once in one direction and then later in the opposite direction, starting and finishing at the same point.

My next post will be a brief discussion on how to calculate a very approximate value of pi from first principles (by which I mean a few diagrams and some basic geometry).  After that, I'll use a different method to get the value of pi, and we'll see how that goes.  If you're looking for more information about tetrahedra, I can recommend this post where I calculate the tetrahedral bond angle.

Here's my solution to the tetrahedron path puzzle: follow the letters in sequence.  

Mathematical Problems, 1 - The Cube Path

Now that the X-Factory has finished its on-screen cash-making routine, I'm returning to more interesting and productive matters - in this case, a mathematical problem that I first came across nearly 20 years ago.  Yes, I'm that old.

This puzzle was posed as part of a text-based adventure game (remember them?) with a strong mathematical bias - you had to solve certain problems in order to progress through the game.  If I remember rightly, for each part you solved, you were given an item or a shape that would come in useful later in the game.  The game was on the school's Maths Club's BBC Micro, and although I can't remember what it was called, there was one puzzle which I didn't solve at the time (although a friend of mine, James Leeson,did, after we started working on it together).  The puzzle recently resurfaced in my mind earlier this week, and I sat down to apply myself to solving it.

Anyways, enough preamble.  In the game, you met a spider, who had a challenge.  She wanted to walk along each of the 12 edges of a cube in a single continuous path that would take her along each edge twice - once in each direction.  You weren't allowed to go directly back on yourself (i.e. reverse) but at the end of each edge, you had to type in if you wanted to turn left or right.  Although the problem didn't specify that you had to start and finish at the same point, this becomes evident through the symmetry of the problem.  And you have to walk along each edge twice (once in one direction, and once in the reverse) otherwise you're guaranteed to hit a dead end.

I can't say much about the theory behind the solution - or if there's more than one solution - but here's mine (and I'm quite proud of it, nearly two decades later).  Start with A and follow each letter sequentially.  If you label each edge with an arrow as you go along, you'll see that it's a valid solution.

Next time... the same puzzle for a tetrahedron!

Cheryl vs Wagner, 21 November 2010

Well, it's good to see the X Factory machine in full swing.  Last Saturday's X Factory Pantomime was filled with all the usual comments, criticisms and crowing that we've come to expect, and in addition, they even managed to get Jeremy Kyle's audience in too.

Big news was of course Cheryl Cole's desperate attempt to undermine Wagner's fanbase.  Realising that her acts are rapidly losing ground, popularity and votes, she's had to change her tactics in order to try and get him voted out of the show.  I'm pleased to see that it completely failed.  So, she, "doesn't normally have any constructive criticism," for him?  Why should this week be any different, eh, Cheryl?  That wasn't constructive criticism, that was a failed character assassination.  So Wagner pointed out that she used to live in a council estate and she's very lucky.  Her transparent, "You should think about how lucky you are," was a thinly veiled threat, and I'm happy that it didn't work.  Instead, with good grace, Wagner managed to completely turn the tables on her, and came up smelling of roses.

Of course, I'm biased.  Yes, The Sun reports it differently, but the fact remains that Wagner is still in, and this little escapade by CC has not done enough to dent his increasingly loyal fanbase.  I'd have liked to have seen Louis take the sing-off to deadlock, instead of eliminating Paije - if only because it increased the chance of Cheryl losing *another* act, the uninspiring rapper, Cher.

Still, Wagner remains, the votes count must be climbing, and we saw an inspired use of the, "No particular order," line.  More on that next time.

X-factor Update: Wagner to win.

So the previous weekend has seen the first serious contender leave the show, as John was voted out and some of the other less talented (but more entertaining) acts were left in.  Yes, I'm referring to Wagner, and yes, I really do genuinely hope he wins.  Last year, we had Jedward who brought in serious money for Mr Cowell (while they were still on the show, before they started touring) but who were unfortunate enough to get voted out before the final.  Consequently, the public had to wait until Christmas before we could deliver him a poke in the eye in the form of "Rage Against the Machine".  This year, we could deliver a serious prod before his show's even finished - it's just a real shame that we'll have to line his pockets to do so.  Personal preference would be for a *shock* Christian song to be number one at Christmas, but in the meantime, prodding the money-makers and giving them a pause for thought and a bit of a knock to their ego might help.

Until then, I'm backing Wagner.  No, I won't be voting for him, and no, I won't regret the fall of the other acts while Wagner stays in.  Last year, you may recall Simon keeping Jedward in at the expense of some other acts who could sing, so I won't be too upset at the public doing exactly the same.  Instead, I'll be watching the news about the Facebook groups, and smiling with a certain cynicism at Wagner's progress.

New blog in the blogosphere

An unrelated, random and probably interesting post today - a friend of mine has just started a thought-provoking blog, and I can recommend it very highly.  It's Chris Timbey's Blog and he covers a wide range of interesting topics (or will be doing in due course).

Lack of practice leads to poor playing

Well, it must be said that a lack of practice at Chess, and having your mind on other things, really does diminish your ability to play Chess.  I say that, dear reader, about you, knowing that it actually applies to me.  My Kasparov Chess computer, which I can beat at Level 6 at my best, is currently dealing me an education in Chess at just Level 4.  No, I wouldn't rank myself a beginner, I've been playing this game for over 20 years, but at the moment I feel a bit like a starter.

So, if you want to improve your Chess, the best thing you can do is at least practise occasionally, and more importantly, learn from your mistakes (and your successes too - I'll tell you when I next get one!).

Here's a list of some of the various games of mine that I've written up (and analysed) on this blog:

My earliest online Chess game
My very earliest Chess game (even earlier than I thought)
The Chess game I'm most proud of -
where I made the situation too complicated for my opponent, found a fork and then finished off with a piece sacrifice
 
The strangest game of Chess I ever played - 1. d4 d5 2. c4 b5
Like what was I supposed to do with that?  I was supposed to play 3. c4xb5, but played 3. c4xd5 and immediately and unintentionally took my opponent out of his prep.

The Chess game I'm least proud of

I got greedy, tried to hold onto a pawn that wasn't mine, and expended a lot of time and effort on it, instead of protecting my King.