I don't understand this Five Doctors scene. Plz explain?

[Mr. Laser Beam]

There's one scene in "The Five Doctors" that to this day I can never understand. It's the one where the First Doctor, Tegan and the Master are trying to get into the tower and the Cybermen are following. The Cybermen are all cut down by lightning because they didn't follow the strict requirements of the way across. The Master says "it's as easy as pi" and uses that to calculate the exact way to cross (i.e. which squares to step on). Exactly how does he do this? It's a square board, after all, so I don't know how pi figures into it.

The Doctor mentions pi, but they don't say exactly how they apply it (i.e. if there's a formula they have to plug it into). Tegan also gets it, and she says 'hope you've got your sums right'. What is she talking about? Adding something to something else? (i.e. "sums") Is there a simple explanation I'm not getting here? I watched the movements of the characters as they crossed the board but it was different every time!

 

[Chaos Descending]

There's nothing to understand. It's nonsense.

Even the writer didn't know what he was talking about.

The viewer is just supposed to say, "Wow, these Time Lords are SMART!" and then just go along with it.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I subscribe to the above explanation, but that being said, there have been some pretty elaborate fan theories and how that whole scene "really" works.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I was so young when I first saw this I didn't know what Pi was.

I wasn't that young.

I read the novelization before I saw the episode.

but when the math teacher started explaining Pi a few years later, I was totally thinking about this scene from 5 Doctors.

then again reading Doctor Who had me say the word aloud "person-AH" rather than "per-soner" which made my teacher smirk.

 

[Photoman15]

Obviously, it's square 3, then 1, then 4, then 1, then 5, then 9 then 2 then 6

xxxxx:xxx
x:xxxxxxx
xxxxxxxx:
xxxx:xxxx
:xxxxxxxx
xxx:xxxxx
:xxxxxxxx
xx:xxxxxx

: = correct box

 

[Stevil2001]

This theory would hold up if:

1) Anthony Ainley didn't saunter straight across the middle.
2) Any two characters took the same path.

 

[TigerBait]

when i think of this scene it flashes me back to Pertwee going over Pi in his head to try and remain distracted from a mental probe. the issue is that he rambles off the first few numbers and is wrong. you can tell he just rounded it off after 6 numbers.

'Lets see now where were we, 3.1416.......(mumbling)' when it should be 3.14159265

 

[Iamnotspock]

when i think of this scene it flashes me back to Pertwee going over Pi in his head to try and remain distracted from a mental probe. the issue is that he rambles off the first few numbers and is wrong. you can tell he just rounded it off after 6 numbers.

'Lets see now where were we, 3.1416.......(mumbling)' when it should be 3.14159265

Why does that remind me of this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2un9rO2ZF4g

 

[Cyke101]

Whenever someone tells me something is as Easy as Pie, I have to keep repeating the phrase the way the First Doctor did. "Easy as PIE?! Easy as PIE?!"

 

[Cutter John]

You people are obviously forgetting to add the forth and fifth dimensions into your calculations.

 

[WRStone]

I suspect that Pi only enters into the calculation if one reverses the polarity of the neutron flow within a couple of hours of using Pi ...

Fortunately, the Third Doctor does precisely this when making it possible for the TARDIS to materialize inside the Tomb.

Dakota Smith

 

[23skidoo]

I think the point of the original question was missed here. The OP is asking about the context of the term "got your sums right". That's just British slang meaning "got your math right". In other words, Tegan was hoping that the Doctor properly remembered what pi was. Because odds are Tegan only knew the apple and cherry variety.

Alex

 

[Starkers]

That's maths

 

[Stevil2001]

That's maths

Ah, the Mathematical Anti Telharsic Harfatum Septomin. Been a while since I learned those in school.

 

[MacLeod]

I think the point of the original question was missed here. The OP is asking about the context of the term "got your sums right". That's just British slang meaning "got your math right". In other words, Tegan was hoping that the Doctor properly remembered what pi was. Because odds are Tegan only knew the apple and cherry variety.

Alex

I wouldn't say that it's slang, perhaps informal

 

[ITL]

I think the point of the original question was missed here. The OP is asking about the context of the term "got your sums right". That's just British slang meaning "got your math right". In other words, Tegan was hoping that the Doctor properly remembered what pi was. Because odds are Tegan only knew the apple and cherry variety.

Alex

I wouldn't say that it's slang, perhaps informal

Yep. In any case, I'd have thought Tegan was a meat pie type of gal. But not steak & kidney, obviously.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

You people are obviously forgetting to add the forth and fifth dimensions into your calculations.

And gravy, pi's are alway better with gravy....or beans.

 

[Sindatur]

I think the point of the original question was missed here. The OP is asking about the context of the term "got your sums right". That's just British slang meaning "got your math right". In other words, Tegan was hoping that the Doctor properly remembered what pi was. Because odds are Tegan only knew the apple and cherry variety.

Alex

I wouldn't say that it's slang, perhaps informal

Also, I would think that term would refer to more to the Doctor applying Pi, not Pi itself.

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

I think the larger question is how Tegan managed to get accross all that outdoorsey terrain in heels. And a short skirt. In freezing weather. Without complaining.

I mean sure, she's an Aussie sheila and all, but they can't be THAT tough...

Mark

 

[Starkers]

Because she's just that awesome!