Snurfen
November 29th, 2005, 12:31 AM
Taff.
"24. Welshmen invented two important mathematical symbols.
It is not generally known that the symbols for equality (=) and the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter (pi) came from the imaginative minds of two Welshmen. First was Robert Recorde, of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, who invented the mathematical sign for equality around the year 1550. Recorde was physician to King Edward VI and Queen Mary. He first introduced algebra to Britain, and for the equal sign he proposed the use of "a paire of paralleles, or [twin] lines of one length because no two lines can be moare equalle." Math may be the bane of schoolchildren throughout the world, but can you imagine their struggles with the intricacies of arithmetic without having this symbol?
The second Welsh mathematical genius was William Jones, born in a small village in Anglesey with the delightful name of Llanfihangel Tre'r Beirdd (Church of St. Michael, Town of the Bards). He is credited for being the first to use the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet, (pi), to represent the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle. Pi appears as a constant in a wide range of mathematical problems. Like the equal sign, however, just what would we do without it?"
See this load of nonsense (http://www.britannia.com/celtic/wales/facts/) for more info on our background. All that drivel and they forgot to mention Elvis was really Welsh!
"24. Welshmen invented two important mathematical symbols.
It is not generally known that the symbols for equality (=) and the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter (pi) came from the imaginative minds of two Welshmen. First was Robert Recorde, of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, who invented the mathematical sign for equality around the year 1550. Recorde was physician to King Edward VI and Queen Mary. He first introduced algebra to Britain, and for the equal sign he proposed the use of "a paire of paralleles, or [twin] lines of one length because no two lines can be moare equalle." Math may be the bane of schoolchildren throughout the world, but can you imagine their struggles with the intricacies of arithmetic without having this symbol?
The second Welsh mathematical genius was William Jones, born in a small village in Anglesey with the delightful name of Llanfihangel Tre'r Beirdd (Church of St. Michael, Town of the Bards). He is credited for being the first to use the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet, (pi), to represent the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle. Pi appears as a constant in a wide range of mathematical problems. Like the equal sign, however, just what would we do without it?"
See this load of nonsense (http://www.britannia.com/celtic/wales/facts/) for more info on our background. All that drivel and they forgot to mention Elvis was really Welsh!