Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-14
SQUARlNG THE CIRCLE.
A Mathematician Who Tried to Convert
Committee OF Astronomers.

HE THINKS HE HAS CHASED DOWN THE MATTE
NAUTICAL wILL-o'-THE-wIsP-A MATTER-oF-FAc1
ASTRONOMER DEMONSTRATES HIS FALLAcY-
WEIGHING THE CIRCLE AND THE soUABE.
The scene in one of the dingy rooms of the
naval observatory building yesterday when
DR.. Edward ]. Goodwin undertook to demon.
strate that he could square the circle, as stated
| in The STAR, was quite remarkable. DR..
Goodwin argued for an hour before two as
tronomers to prove to them that "a circular
| area is equal to the square on a line equal to
the quadrant of the circumference, and
| the area Of the square is equal to the area OF
the circle whose circumference is equal to the
perimeter of the square," He failed, so far as
the astronomers were concerned. DR.. Good
win claims to have made life study Of the
matter. His hearers were Profs. Eastman and
Frisby of the observatory, whom the superin-
tendent had appointed as a committee to listen
TO his demonstration. The doctor was accom-
panied by his attorney, Mr.. Wills, and couple
of friends. Mr.. skinner, the third member OF
the committee. came in late. A STAR reporter
was also present.
HOW DIR. GOODWIN GETS THE AREA.
In ordinary mathematics circle, for the
purposes of determining its area, is considered
as a polygon with an infinite number of sides
and the figure 3.1416 has been accepted as the
formula for the calculation of area. DIR. Good
win wanted to show that he could get at the
area by the simple method of squaring or null
tiplying by itself one-quarter of the circumfer.
ence. Inasmuch as this is the exact method
OF obtaining the area of a square, his PROPOSE
ton was to reduce the circle to exactly the
same basis of the square, or Ito square the
circle" which all mathematician agree upon
as impossible.
THE DEMONSTRATION.
He began his demonstration by striding for
ward and standing before Prof. Eastman in a
dramatic attitude, holding in his hand a small
block of wood in the form of truncated cone,
the upper surface of which was his circle,
bound by brass rim. Then he plunged into
mass of mathematical terms. The astrono-
mers were patient but skeptical. They were
willing to be convinced. but they didn't think
they could be. The tall, gam. figure of the
demonstration, his long, lean forefnger shaking
In emphasis. lent tense interest to the scene.
"Then," exclaimed the demonstration, tri-
umphantly, after talking for some time, my
proposition is proved" The others didn't see
1t and demurred, whereat DIR. Goodwin de-
clared that they were prejudiced and drew a
diagram out OF his pocket to prove it.
PRACTICAL WAY.
After good deal of talk Prof. Frisby pulled
two pieces of paper from his desk square and
circle. BOTH he said and proved, of the same
circumference. According to DIR. Goodwin's
theory they should have been of the same area.
pin was thrust through the centers of the
two figures, the square on top. Each corner of
the square overlapped the circle about three
elghths of an inch and there were four segments
OF the circle visible, each about two inches
long. With the four corners cut off the former
square was visibly smaller than the circle, and
hnIn NIL Inf, fln 20
the corners clipped off were found to be con-
siderably smaller. In short. there was an ocu-
lar demonstration of the fact that the square
was much smaller than the circle.
THINKS 1T WAS TRICK.
The exhibition of this simple proof rouse
the doctors ire and he Indignantly excaimed
that it was put-up job, that the circle and the
square had been drawn to suit the convenience
of the astronomers, and he drew forth copy
of LOOMS geometry, which he quoted to show
that he was right, and occasionally arguing to
show that LOOMS was all wrong. Whenever
one OF the committee would attempt to make
him say whether he considered the square to
be as large as the circle he refused TO answer,
saying that he was not there to be Intercepted.
THE TRIAL BY WEIGHT.
The climax came when Mr.. Skinner said that
he had weighed the circle and the square and
had found the former to be heavier and there
fore larger. This amused the doctor, who
wanted to know how long since scientists had
taken to applying specific gravity to lines and
angels. Prof. Eastman became bored at last
and told the doctor that he did not think he
had demonstrated his proposition and that he
talk forever. He added that he was willing to
make report if the doctor wished, but the
latter shrugged his shoulders and said he
guessed he didn't want one.