GeezerVison is showing github.com — Add π to the `math` module · Issue #103172 · python/cpython
Add π to the math module #103172DescriptionCurrently, the math module in CPython uses the identifier math.pi to represent the mathematical constant π. This breaks user expectations and violates the principle of least surprise.
To improve consistency and readability, I propose changing math.pi to math.π symbol throughout the module. The reasoning for this is threefold:
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This change will make the code more intuitive for mathematicians and scientists (at least 99%+ of python users) who are more used to seeing the π symbol, thus reducing cognitive load and allowing them to build more complicated research code.
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Python supports unicode characters such as π and we don't take advantage of this enough. We can use π, therefore we should.
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Nobody currently knows how to type π, if we make this change users will have to open the math module and copy and paste the variable name - which is a great way to increase the visibility of important module internals that users need to read.
Some would be tempted to create a math.pi alias to maintain backwards compatibility, but I think that would only encourage people to continue using the non-symbolic variable (bad), so I propose simply deleting math.pi entirely (users will get the hint!).
This is a pretty small change so I don't think a news entry is necessary, in fact I think not having a news entry would make this change a sort of cool Easter Egg that users can discover and enjoy!
Kind regards and happy April 1st,
Joe
Linked PRs
Reacted by Alex Waygood, chgnrdv, sobolevn, r-c-f, Eryk Sun, Konstantin Rasputin, Artem Mukhin, Sasha, Kyle Hofmann, wookie184 and 11 more Reacted by Alex Waygood, Artem Mukhin, AtulVishwa, Kyle Hofmann, Ionite and decorator-factory Activitysobolevn commented on Apr 1, 2023 I think that 🥧 is a much better name! It looks tasty! Reacted by Abhinav Srivastava Reacted by JosephSBoyle, Konstantin Rasputin, Shashwat, Kumar and Ben Morgan Reacted by Alex Waygood, Desiders, Eric Fahlgren and ರಾಹುಲ್ kumaraditya303 commented on Apr 1, 2023 Worth backporting to 2.7! Reacted by Alex Waygood, JosephSBoyle, Shashwat, decorator-factory, An Long, Kumar, Clément Robert, Barney Gale and Cool Guy Reacted by Barney Gale rasputyashka commented on Apr 1, 2023 Yea, I was really surprised when realized that my keyboard has only π, but not "p" and "i". That's why i still don't use python when i do some rocket science. Reacted by Swarnodip Nag, kvrvgv, Abhinav Srivastava and Kumar efahl commented on Apr 1, 2023
Python supports unicode characters such as π and we don't take advantage of this enough. We can use π, therefore we should.
I concur wholeheartedly with this. We should look for other opportunities to impose our will upon make life easier for all users, so suggest we use Σ to replace the 'sum' builtin. Reacted by Stefane Fermigier jschwar313 commented on Apr 1, 2023 Sounds pretty irrational to me. Reacted by Lewis Gaul and Boštjan Mejak Reacted by Lewis Gaul, Stefane Fermigier, Abhinav Srivastava and Sam Sulaimanov flowerbug commented on Apr 1, 2023 Everyone should write in the margins that using such a symbol is not reflecting the reality of the situation. As you are writing a finite symbol, but when you read and evaluate such a symbol your brain should never return. This is true of many such symbols where we fudge maths, e, 1/3, inf, etc. mrabarnett commented on Apr 1, 2023 And λ to replace 'lambda', of course.
Plus 🐍 instead of 'Python'. Reacted by Ijtaba Hussain rasputyashka commented on Apr 1, 2023
And λ to replace 'lambda', of course.
Plus 🐍 instead of 'Python'.
but we don't use "python" anywhere in the code. It's neither builtin or keyword. gvanrossum commented on Apr 1, 2023 Reacted by Alex Waygood, denballakh, wookie184, Jelle Zijlstra, Charlie Zhao, Leo Zheng, baseplate-admin and Kumar sfermigier commented on Apr 2, 2023 On a more serious tone, the "empty set" character (“∅”, U+2205) should be usable to represent an empty set in Python. It currently is not allowed:
Python 3.11.2 (main, Feb 16 2023, 02:51:42)
>>> ∅ = set()
File "<stdin>", line 1
∅ = set()
^
SyntaxError: invalid character '∅' (U+2205)
I believe it would be useful when working with set-theoretic code, in part because {} doesn't represent the empty set in Python. sfermigier commented on Apr 2, 2023
Python supports unicode characters such as π and we don't take advantage of this enough. We can use π, therefore we should.
I concur wholeheartedly with this. We should look for other opportunities to impose our will upon make life easier for all users, so suggest we use Σ to replace the 'sum' builtin.
(Seriously) Note that currently the '∑' (U+2211) character is not allowed as an identifier in Python, so it isn't even doable (assuming it's a good idea):
>>> ∑ = sum
File "<stdin>", line 1
∑ = sum
^
SyntaxError: invalid character '∑' (U+2211)
AlexWaygood commented on Apr 2, 2023 Alas! For it is no longer April 1, and what had yesterday seemed like a revelatory idea, now seems, uh, foolish.
Thanks for the excellent April Fool's, @JosephSBoyle, it brightened my day :) Reacted by Charlie Zhao Reacted by JosephSBoyle and Ethan Furman efahl commented on Apr 2, 2023
(Seriously) Note that currently the '∑' (U+2211) character is not allowed as an identifier in Python, so it isn't even doable (assuming it's a good idea):
I didn't use 2211, I used Σ \u03a3, which is indeed valid as an identifier. Choose your homographs carefully. holdenweb commented on Apr 4, 2023 I'd suggest this frivolity end immediately. Beware the ∏thon Secret Underground, who have spies out watching for this sort of @^&E$^^RVO^RVOP*&%^
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