Why cant we use th va parallel 5 s or 8 s?

The question that has plagued Russell for ages

Things we need to know, so what Im about to say sounds like Im speaking English:
Frequency: The number of Cycles a wave makes in one second; how fast a wave travels. Hertz: Cycles per second. Measures

frequency.
Ratio: The resulting fraction when dividing two numbers. Can also be expressed as a decimal.

Frequency Ratio: A number obtained when a larger frequency is divided by a smaller frequency. This shows the interval between two frequencies.
Ratios are multiplied by each other to increase, and divided to decrease the ratio.

Pythagorean Tuning
Based of the division of a string
Ratio of the first string to the first divide: Octave: 1/()= 2

Ratio of second to the third:

Perfect 5th: ()/()= 3/2 Ratio of third to the fourth: Perfect 4th: ()/()= 4/3 Circle of Fifths/Fourths

Characteristics
The Circle of Fifths based on the division of a string yield 15 different notes.
Enharmonic notes are not enharmonic (F# is a bit lower than Gb, for example).

4ths and 5ths have a perfect 3/2 and 4/3 ratio.

All other intervals are badly our of tune. Using Pythagorean Tuning system, when the Circle of 5ths was completed, the ending pitch would be a hair below where we started.

Just Temperament Tuning

Based on Major Triad (C-E-G, Ratio=4:5:6) Multiplication of the frequency Ratios 9/8=Major Whole Tone Interval, 10/9=Minor Whole Tone
Interval Ratio to Fundamental Just Scale 1.0000 25/24 = 1.0417 9/8 = 1.1250 6/5 = 1.2000 5/4 = 1.2500 4/3 = 1.3333 45/32 = 1.4063 3/2 = 1.5000 8/5 = 1.6000 5/3 = 1.6667 9/5 = 1.8000 15/8 = 1.8750 2.0000

Unison Minor Second Major Second Minor Third Major Third Fourth Diminished Fifth Fifth Minor Sixth Major Sixth Minor Seventh Major Seventh Octave

Characteristics
All thirds are greatly in tune. The Ratio between C and G is not the same between F and A. C:G=3/2 (1.5) D:A=40/27 (1.481481) The same problems with unequal enharmonic notes persists, especially when transposing to other keys. In C, the Major Second C to D has a ratio of 9/8. In F, going from C to D would have a ratio of 10/9

Equal Temperament Tuning

The intervals between all 12 notes of the chromatic scale have an equal ratio (1.059463) To go from one octave to the next, multiply 1.059463 by itself 12 times (or, 1.05946312). Any frequency ratio can be found by multiplying 1.059463 by itself by however many half-steps there are.

Perfect 5th, 7 half-steps= 1.0594637

Characteristics
All half-steps are the same; enharmonic notes are truly enharmonic No interval is a perfect ratio anymore, except for octaves 1.0594637=1.04983, not 1.5 However, because the fifth is only off by .00169, most people will not notice.

Perfect 8vas?
Using Pythagorean Tuning system, when the Circle of 5ths was completed, the ending pitch would be a hair below where we started.

Harmonics and partialsIll explain

Conclusions
In Gregorian Chant and early Polyphony, Perfect 5ths and 8vas were acceptable because the main instrument, the human voice, could always adjust to the correct pitch of a true Perfect 5th. Perfect 5ths were unacceptable during the just tuning period because some intervals had a ratio of 1.5 and other has 1.481this was a noticeable difference.

Perfect 5ths are unacceptable now out of tradition.