Newsgroups: sci.math
From: wft@math.canterbury.ac.nz (Bill Taylor)
Subject: Re: The calculation of Pi?
Date: Fri, 8 Apr 1994 05:06:44 GMT

|> >As has been pointed out to me in e-mail, I actually want a proof (fake or
|> >real! :) ) that pi is rational.  
|>  
|> What kind of proof?
|> 
|> Take your choice:
|> 
|> (1) Proof by obfuscation
|> (2) Proof by appeal to authority
|> (3) Proof by non-existent reference
|> (4) Proof by reductio-ad-nauseum
|> (5) Proof by infinite ascent
|> (6) Proof by trial and error
|> (7) Proof by mortal combat
|> 
|> any more?


Sure.

(8)   Proof by smallness of margin
(8A)  Proof by blackboard exhaustion
(9)   Proof by lecture time exhaustion
(10   Proof by ad hominem denunciation of counter-examplers
(11)  Proof by random example
(11A) Proof by only computable examples (incomplete exhaustion)
(12)  Proof by mutual reference
(12A) Proof by cyclic references
(13)  Proof by atom totality
