What is the number π approximately equal to?
The number π (spelled out as "pi") is a mathematical constant, approximately equal to 3.14159. It is defined in Euclidean geometry as the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, and also has various equivalent definitions.
The number appears in many formulas in all areas of mathematics and physics. The earliest known use of the Greek letter π to represent the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter was by Welsh mathematician William Jones in 1706. It is also referred to as Archimedes' constant.
More Info:
en.wikipedia.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
18 Comments
tkudera
Pi day was just yesterday!
JRW
tbear, that only works for the American way of giving dates. For much of the world the 14th of March is given as 14/3.
JRW
Wayne Roberts, neater? 22 divide by 7 = 3.142 which is accurate to 3 significant figures (or 2 decimal places) making it a fairly good approximation for 'everyday' purposes.
Mic Fenst
Ron Gosling, The value approximates a number.
Mic Fenst
Nickey Welsh, Differing font styles reproduce the Greek letters differently. Likely the author input an upper case letted, which are more block like. Lower case fonts typically show the letter with the curved upper line.
Ron Gosling
Paul Greenslade, but the value is a number.
Ken Putnam
Nickey Welsh,
Still does, technically
John W Shreve
tbear, In Greek, it is pronounced with a long e, or "pee," not "pie." But I do not propose changing the name of the special day to National Pee Day.
catmom
tbear, I love that idea. I think that was great.
catmom
Peggy Tinsley, lol.
Mark Strong
Joris van Pelt, I like your credintals and knowledge, but PI day is not March 3,
Nickey Welsh
Oh dear I need my eyes testing ! I read it as TT. In my day the 2 vertical lines had a curve over them.
Carroll Price
The circumference of a circle is 3.14 times the diameter.
Laura Lunardini Wilson
Had absolutely no clue what that was! Have not seen Pi feature since high school! Wasn’t even thinking of that! Been out of school since 64! Long time ago!!
tbear
Pi day is 3/14! Makes the answer easy! Had a teacher many years ago that always brought pies to her classes on March 14th every year!(if it was a week day) 😊💛
earlepg
Thank you Lilly for going beyond preschool. I don't blame the 19% who missed the pi, since they may never have run across the term.