Comic #4770: geometry

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Description

Here's the transcription of the comic text:

Panel 1: "Since the Babylonian days, mathematicians have wondered if it were possible to 'square the circle.' That is, using only a compass and straightedge, can you construct a square with the same area as a given circle."

Panel 2: "Mathematicians supposedly proved you couldn't back in 1882." "They were wrong."

Panel 3: "Imagine your compass and straightedge."

Panel 4: "First, put a pencil on one end of the compass and an eraser on the other."

Panel 5: "Second, you designate any number of tiny boxes on your straightedge. Using the compass, you can draw or erase symbols on the straightedge."

Panel 6: "And what's that called?" "A Turing machine."

Panel 7: "So, now we can rephrase the problem: using only a computer, can you construct a square with the same area as a given circle?"

Panel 8: "Using this general method, we can unlock all 'compass and straightedge' problems!"

Panel 9: "Are you missing the point accidentally or strategically?" "I'm mostly trying to make the philosophy students sad."

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