Was the State of Indiana's legislation changed to fix the value of Pi?

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Accepted answer

Yes, there was such a bill, known as Indiana Pi Bill, but it was never approved by the State.

You can find a very interesting article on the matter, written by Arthur E. Hallerburg, in the text of Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science. Search for the phrase House Bill No. 246 Revisited.

The whole affair started in 1894, when American Mathematical Monthly released an article "Quadrature of the circle" by Edward J. Goodwin in number 1(7): 246–248.

Then it was introduced to the Indiana House of Representatives by Representative Taylor I. Record, under the following title:

A Bill for an act introducing a new mathematical truth and offered as a contribution to education to be used only by the State of Indiana free of cost by paying any royalties whatever on the same, provided it is accepted and adopted by the official action of the Legislature of 1897

It was at first accepted by the Committee on Education, but thanks to Purdue University Professor C. A. Waldo, who came to Indianapolis especially in order to teach politicians about the matter of Pi, became postponed forever by Indiana Senate.

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