Free Essays on Origin Of Pi

The Greek letter * (pi) is used internationally to represent the number that is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter or the ratio of the area of a circle to the square of its radius. Pi is an irrational number, which means that pi is a number that cannot be expressed in a simple fraction or as a decimal with a set number of decimal places. Pi is also a transcendental number, that is, pi is a number that is not expressible as the root or quotient of integers and pi is a non-repeating infinite decimal. The origin of pi is hard to measure since pi, as a constant has been known for so long. The earliest recorded incidents of pi came from early Babylonian and Egypt, where most mathematics originated. The first known record of pi comes from the Rhind Papyrus (1650 B.C.), where the Egyptians calculated pi to be equal to 4(8/9)2 or 3.1605 , which is very close to the value used today. The value that the Egyptians used is believed to date around 2000 B.C. The next reference to a calculation of pi is by the Babylonians. The Babylonians are thought to have used a few different values for pi. One value believed to be approximated for pi by the Babylonians is 3 1/8 (3.125), a value at least as good as the Egyptian value. In the Old Babylonian period (ca. 1800-1600 B.C.) the circumference of a circle was found by taking three times the diameter, which is the same as using pi equal to 3. Around the same time as the Egyptians and Babylonians, the Indians used the square root of 10 to approximate pi. This value used by the Indians is almost as good as both the Egyptians’ and Babylonians’. All three approximations have an error at the second decimal place. The Hebrews also used a value of 3 to find the circumference of a circle. The pi approximation used by the Hebrews appears in the Old Testament. The verse is written: And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and h... Free Essays on Origin Of Pi Free Essays on Origin Of Pi The Greek letter * (pi) is used internationally to represent the number that is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter or the ratio of the area of a circle to the square of its radius. Pi is an irrational number, which means that pi is a number that cannot be expressed in a simple fraction or as a decimal with a set number of decimal places. Pi is also a transcendental number, that is, pi is a number that is not expressible as the root or quotient of integers and pi is a non-repeating infinite decimal. The origin of pi is hard to measure since pi, as a constant has been known for so long. The earliest recorded incidents of pi came from early Babylonian and Egypt, where most mathematics originated. The first known record of pi comes from the Rhind Papyrus (1650 B.C.), where the Egyptians calculated pi to be equal to 4(8/9)2 or 3.1605 , which is very close to the value used today. The value that the Egyptians used is believed to date around 2000 B.C. The next reference to a calculation of pi is by the Babylonians. The Babylonians are thought to have used a few different values for pi. One value believed to be approximated for pi by the Babylonians is 3 1/8 (3.125), a value at least as good as the Egyptian value. In the Old Babylonian period (ca. 1800-1600 B.C.) the circumference of a circle was found by taking three times the diameter, which is the same as using pi equal to 3. Around the same time as the Egyptians and Babylonians, the Indians used the square root of 10 to approximate pi. This value used by the Indians is almost as good as both the Egyptians’ and Babylonians’. All three approximations have an error at the second decimal place. The Hebrews also used a value of 3 to find the circumference of a circle. The pi approximation used by the Hebrews appears in the Old Testament. The verse is written: And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and h...