Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > comp.lang.python > #110102

Re: value of pi and 22/7

From boB Stepp <robertvstepp@gmail.com>
Newsgroups comp.lang.python
Subject Re: value of pi and 22/7
Date 2016-06-18 10:22 -0500
Message-ID <mailman.117.1466263343.2288.python-list@python.org> (permalink)
References (5 earlier) <CALwzidnqyDKZ=9MBpu9QiF4Lk+MduEmvQ3L9CSknb60kP=zSCA@mail.gmail.com> <mailman.107.1466207356.2288.python-list@python.org> <5764a19c$0$1603$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com> <nk2n8m$34t$1@dont-email.me> <CANDiX9+Rdk7PV2qNnAaPCsWcnsUJrKx4GVhWBvCyjAjgysKZkw@mail.gmail.com>

Show all headers | View raw

On Sat, Jun 18, 2016 at 12:47 AM, Tim Harig
<timharig@eternal-september.org> wrote:

>
> The main problem I have with significant figures is that measurement
> accuracy is often not constrained to a decimal system.  A scale that can
> measure in 1/5 units is more accurate than a scale that can measure only
> in whole units but it is not as accurate as a scale that can measure
> all 1/10 units.  Therefore it effectively has a fractional number of
> significant figures.

Probably in this type of discussion a more careful distinction between
"precision" and "accuracy" should be made.  A measuring instrument may
allow for many significant digits in its reported result, giving it a
high level of precision, but could, in fact, be giving an inaccurate
measurement (How close it is to the "true" value.), especially if it
is an instrument that has not been properly calibrated (Made to agree
as well as possible with known standards.).

boB

Back to comp.lang.python | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar | Unroll thread

Thread

Re: value of pi and 22/7 Lawrence D’Oliveiro <lawrencedo99@gmail.com> - 2016-06-17 16:12 -0700
  Re: value of pi and 22/7 Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2016-06-17 17:49 -0600
    Re: value of pi and 22/7 Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2016-06-18 11:19 +1000
      Re: value of pi and 22/7 Ethan Furman <ethan@stoneleaf.us> - 2016-06-17 19:27 -0700
      Re: value of pi and 22/7 Tim Harig <timharig@eternal-september.org> - 2016-06-18 05:47 +0000
        Re: value of pi and 22/7 boB Stepp <robertvstepp@gmail.com> - 2016-06-18 10:22 -0500
      Re: value of pi and 22/7 Christian Gollwitzer <auriocus@gmx.de> - 2016-06-18 09:56 +0200
  Re: value of pi and 22/7 Random832 <random832@fastmail.com> - 2016-06-17 23:48 -0400
    Re: value of pi and 22/7 Lawrence D’Oliveiro <lawrencedo99@gmail.com> - 2016-06-17 21:30 -0700
      Re: value of pi and 22/7 Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2016-06-17 23:18 -0600
        Re: value of pi and 22/7 Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2016-06-20 10:25 +1200
          Re: value of pi and 22/7 Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2016-06-20 12:07 +1000
            Re: value of pi and 22/7 Grant Edwards <grant.b.edwards@gmail.com> - 2016-06-20 18:06 +0000
          Re: value of pi and 22/7 Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2016-06-19 23:19 -0600
            Re: value of pi and 22/7 Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2016-06-20 16:22 +1000
              Re: value of pi and 22/7 Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2016-06-20 10:01 -0600
                Re: value of pi and 22/7 Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2016-06-21 18:38 +1000
              Re: value of pi and 22/7 Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2016-06-20 10:09 -0600
          Re: value of pi and 22/7 Lawrence D’Oliveiro <lawrencedo99@gmail.com> - 2016-06-19 22:51 -0700
            Re: value of pi and 22/7 Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2016-06-20 10:32 +0300
              Re: value of pi and 22/7 Lawrence D’Oliveiro <lawrencedo99@gmail.com> - 2016-06-20 01:01 -0700
                Re: value of pi and 22/7 Wildman <best_lay@yahoo.com> - 2016-06-20 17:24 -0500
                Re: value of pi and 22/7 Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2016-06-21 01:47 +0300
                Re: value of pi and 22/7 Lawrence D’Oliveiro <lawrencedo99@gmail.com> - 2016-06-22 14:20 -0700
      Re: value of pi and 22/7 Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2016-06-20 10:14 +1200
        Re: value of pi and 22/7 Grant Edwards <grant.b.edwards@gmail.com> - 2016-06-20 17:53 +0000
        Re: value of pi and 22/7 Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2016-06-20 21:52 +0300
          Re: value of pi and 22/7 Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2016-06-22 00:52 +1200
  Re: value of pi and 22/7 Pete Forman <petef4+usenet@gmail.com> - 2016-06-18 13:05 +0100
  Re: value of pi and 22/7 Johannes Bauer <dfnsonfsduifb@gmx.de> - 2016-06-18 18:09 +0200

csiph-web