Pi is not merely the ubiquitous factor in high school geometry problems; it is stitched across the whole tapestry of mathematics, not just geometry's little corner of it. Pi occupies a key place in trigonometry too. It is intimately related to e, and to imaginary numbers. Pi even shows up in the mathematics of probability. -Robert Kanigel
Click here for the script to the All About Pi Video.
π is the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle and is approximately 3.14159265358979323846….
This means you can divide the circumference by the diameter and get π for any circle.
Check out this applet emphasizing this relationship.
If you would like to compute π using the formula C=πd, you will need a string, a ruler, a pencil, a piece of paper, and a circle (the lid from a bottle or jar will work).
Wrap the string around the circumference of the circle and cut the string (try to be as accurate as possible).
Measure the length of the string and record it on your piece of paper. Then measure and record the length of the diameter of your circle.
Rearrange the formula C=πd to get π= C/d. Use your measurements to compute π.
If you want to be super accurate, do this process again with different sized circles and take the average of your results.
π is an irrational number , as well as a transcendental number . Since π is irrational, the digits go on nonrepeating forever.
Because of this fact people believe any number or sequence of numbers can be found in π.
This is yet to be proven, but a powerful idea, and mathematicians believe that if π can be proven to be normal than this is true.
π has been determined to be normal for the trillion digits, and mathematicians believe that it will continue to be normal (Lamb).
For more on this check out these two YouTube videos.
π is found everywhere and has kept mathematicians captivated for centuries.
π is the most widely known mathematical constant (Hom).
Back to Top