【英语时差8,16】美国派

We called this program "American Pi." Why? Who can pass up a chance for a pun.  D: 3.1415926535 . . .

Y: [OVER DON'S COUNTING] Don. Don?

D: [EXASPERATED] What?

Y: What are you doing?

D: I was trying to break the record for memorizing pi. Now I'll have to start over.

Y: Memorize pi? Oh yeah, I remember that from 7th grade geometry. (BEAT) But how can you memorize pi? We usually abbreviate¹ it as 3.14, but the numbers just keep going after the decimal point.

D: I'm trying to memorize as many numbers as I can. The record is 42,000 decimal places.

Y: Wow. You're really going to try to memorize that much? Why? What is pi, anyway.

D: It's only one of the most fascinating numbers in the history of mathematics. It sounds simple: Pi equals the circumference² of a circle divided by its diameter. No matter how large or small the circle, the ratio always equals pi.

Y: That's interesting.

D: Yes, and it has been for over 4000 years. The Babylonians were the first to approximate pi, and ever since, mathematicians³ have come up with ways of figuring it more accurately⁴. In modern times we've used supercomputers to calculate pi to billions of decimal places.

Y: That's really something. But what's all the excitement about? I mean, what is pi used for?

D: It's used to measure the length of arcs and other curves and to determine the area of sectors⁵ and other curves. It's also used to measure the volume of solids. For instance, if you're a rocket scientist trying to calculate the fuel capacity of a cylindrical⁶ fuel tank, pi's your guy.

Y: Cool.

D: Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a record to break.

Y: Good luck.

D: 3.1415 9265 3589 7932 3846 . . .  

1 abbreviate   

v.缩写，使...简略，缩短

参考例句：

• She had lost the power to abbreviate the remaining steps of the way.她丧失了缩短这最后几步路的能力。
• It is seldom acceptable to abbreviate words in formal writing.在正式的书面语中使用缩写语通常是不能接受的。

2 circumference   

n.圆周，周长，圆周线

参考例句：

• It's a mile round the circumference of the field.运动场周长一英里。
• The diameter and the circumference of a circle correlate.圆的直径与圆周有相互关系。

3 mathematicians   

数学家( mathematician的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Do you suppose our mathematicians are unequal to that? 你以为我们的数学家做不到这一点吗？ 来自英汉文学
• Mathematicians can solve problems with two variables. 数学家们可以用两个变数来解决问题。 来自哲学部分

4 accurately   

adv.准确地，精确地

参考例句：

• It is hard to hit the ball accurately.准确地击中球很难。
• Now scientists can forecast the weather accurately.现在科学家们能准确地预报天气。

5 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 cylindrical   

adj.圆筒形的

参考例句：

• huge cylindrical gas tanks 巨大的圆柱形贮气罐
• Beer cans are cylindrical. 啤酒罐子是圆筒形的。