Vulture comments on Stupid Questions February 2015 - Less Wrong

9 Post author: Gondolinian 02 February 2015 12:36AM

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Comment author: solipsist 02 February 2015 03:03:35PM *  10 points [-]

A lot of math and physics definitions feel like they have weird dross. Examples:

  • The Gamma function has this -1 I don't understand
  • The Riemann Zeta function ζ(s) negates s for reasons beyond me
  • cosine seems more primitive than sine
  • The gravitational constant looks like off by a factor of 4π
  • π seems like half the size it should be

After years of confusion, I was finally vindicated about π. That π is not 6.2831853071... is mostly a historical accident. Am I "right" about these other definitions being "wrong"? What are other mathematical entities are defined in ugly ways for historical reasons?

Comment author: Vulture 03 February 2015 05:53:09PM 3 points [-]

In my opinion the gamma function is by far the stupidest. IME, the off-by-one literally never makes equations clearer; it only obfuscates the relationship between continuous and discrete things (etc.) by adding in an annoying extra step that trips up your intuition. Seems like simple coordination failure.

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