Maths

What is the Value of Pi in Maths?

Definition of Pi

The number Pi refers to a mathematical constant. Experts define it as the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. The value of Pi is approximately 3.14159 and its appearance takes place in many formulas in all areas of mathematics.

Who Discovered Pi?

The representation of Pi takes place by the Greek letter “π” since the mid-18th century. Since Pi was discovered by Archimedes of Syracuse, experts also call it the Archimedes’ constant. He was one of the best Mathematicians in Egypt. Its appearance takes place in many formulas in all areas of mathematics.

value of pi

Value of Pi Formula

In some ways, Pi (π) happens to be a really straightforward number. The calculation of Pi involves taking any circle and doing the division of its circumference by its diameter. Therefore, π = circumference/diameter.

Pi (π) is the first number one learns about at school where one can’t write it as an exact decimal. Furthermore, there is a certain mystery behind this number which has digits which go on forever and it has made people curious for thousands of years.

The infinite value of Pi will be 3.141592653589…… So, when one begins to write this number, the finishing point will never come. The value of Pi will go on forever with no repeating pattern to its digits.

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Importance of Value of Pi

Pi (π) is a very important and useful number. Its appearance takes place everywhere in mathematics. Furthermore, it has countless uses in Science and Engineering.

Lots of things in this world are round, and whenever something is round, Pi (π) comes into play.  For example, if an engineer wants to calculate a water pipe’s volume, they will use the formula for a cylinder that consists of Pi.

Measurement of Circles and Value of Pi

The most obvious way to calculate Pi (π) involves taking the most perfect circle and then measuring its circumference and diameter in order to work out the value of Pi (π).  This is how ancient civilizations used to measure and this is how they realized that there is a constant ratio in every circle.

Accuracy is certainly a problem associated with this method. The main question is trusting the tape measure to deliver Pi (π) correct to 10 or more decimal places.

Polygons for Approximating the Value of Pi

The Greek mathematician Archimedes came up with a method for finding out an approximation of Pi (π). He initiated by drawing a regular hexagon inside a circle and afterward circumscribing another regular hexagon that was outside that circle.

This way, he was successful in calculating the exact diameters and circumferences of the hexagons. Hence, he was able to obtain a rough approximation of Pi (π) by doing the division of the circumference by the diameter.

Archimedes had found a way to double the number of sides belonging to his hexagons. He was able to find a more accurate approximation of Pi (π) by using polygons that had more sides and which were closer to the circle. He performed this to a total of four times until he was using ninety-six sided polygons.

Archimedes performed an exact calculation of circumference and diameter. Therefore, he could approximate Pi (π) to be between the fraction 223/71 and fraction 22/7. The fraction 22/7 has certainly been the most famous approximation of Pi (π) ever since.

Roughly 600 years since Archimedes, a Chinese mathematician by the name of Zu Chongzhi made use of a similar method to inscribe a regular polygon with 12,288 sides.  The result was the production of an approximation of Pi (π) as 355/113. This happens to be correct to six decimal places.

Solved Question for You

Question 1: Explain the infinite value of Pi?

Answer:  The infinite value of Pi shall be 3.141592653589…… As such, when one writes this number, the finishing or endpoint will never come. The value of pie will continue forever with no repeating pattern to its digits.

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