Re: [OT] Good, evil and religion

[Wackojacko <wackojacko32@ntlworld.com>]

Amy Templeton wrote:
> Wackojacko <wackojacko32@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> > > Roberto C. Sánchez wrote:
> > > Well, since we are getting all scientific, the ratio of the diameter of
> > > a circle to its circumference is in fact 3, if all you have is one
> > > significant digit, which it appears is all we have from the text.  Now,
> > > if it said "ten point zero zero cubits" and "five point zero zero
> > > cubits" and "thirty point zero zero cubits" then there might be a point
> > > in there.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > -Roberto
>
> > Ah but is it.  30 could be 2 significant digits, in that case it is
> > incorrect as it should be 31 :)
>
> Actually, this is not the case. It would only be two significant
> digits if it were written with a three followed by a 0 with a bar
> over it; the bar indicates that it really is *exactly* thirty, not
> just rounding from 28 or 31 or something. So no, as written it is
> not two significant digits.

My point was the original reference stated 'thirty' so who knows how 
many significant figures this is when written in words.

Also what you have written is a contradiction.  Either the bar means it 
is exactly 30 or it means it is 30 to 2 significant figures, in which 
case it might be 30.4, not the same.  But I know what you meant.

Wackojacko