Tombstone trivia: although contrary to legend a 17-sided polygon is not inscribed on mathematician Karl F. Gauss's grave marker, there is a number featured on the headstone of physicist James P. Joule:
| 772.55 |
... his measurement of the conversion factor between mechanical energy and heat energy. The current value is a bit over 778 foot-pounds per British Thermal Unit (BTU), so Joule's value from 1878 is low by about a percent.
(see [1] and [2] for photos of Joule's memorial; cf. SeventeenSides (2005-02-10), ...) - ^z - 2010-01-18