How did they come up with Pi?

[man_with_thooo]

Yes, this is a question that's been bugging me for the longest time now. I've asked many of my math teachers, but even they don't know why pi had to be ~3.14 out of all random numbers. And how about the other decimal values? Where'd they come from?

I'd be really happy if somebody could answer this.

[GDwarf]

Pi is simply a ratio.

If you look at any circle you'll find that it's circumference is always Pi times it's diameter.

So, if you take the circumference of any circle and divide it by its diameter you'll end up with Pi.

That's where it comes from.

[ZeldaMaster#1#1]

Pi= 3.141592653.......

Pi is something almost useless. It only counts for circles. I've never heard of another place where Pi is used.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by ZeldaMaster#1#1

Pi= 3.141592653.......

Pi is something almost useless. It only counts for circles. I've never heard of another place where Pi is used.

Congratulations. This is now my "quote of the day," and this is the first thread I've read. Nothing will be able to trump it, though.


The ratio π applies to everything: All calculations involving movement that isn't a straight line, which happens to be quite a lot.

π radians is the usual method for expressing angles in trigonometry, as an angle is just going around a circle.

So, yeah. it's useless in 6th grade or whatever, but not in general.

[Asci]

I love pi. I use pi every day. Pi is the only thing that gets me through life happily.

[Akìtsune]

Originally Posted by Scott

Congratulations. This is now my "quote of the day," and this is the first thread I've read. Nothing will be able to trump it, though.


The ratio π applies to everything: All calculations involving movement that isn't a straight line, which happens to be quite a lot.

π radians is the usual method for expressing angles in trigonometry, as an angle is just going around a circle.

So, yeah. it's useless in 6th grade or whatever, but not in general.

I think Scott covered it in his explaination. Otherwise Pi is just there to compute the circumference of a Circle.

[Mirror Image]

Pi chronology

One time, on Arthur, Buster's mother invited his teacher over for dinner for a date or something, and he brought Pie for desert and I found it hilarious.

[zoraluigi]

Originally Posted by Scott

Congratulations. This is now my "quote of the day," and this is the first thread I've read. Nothing will be able to trump it, though.


The ratio π applies to everything: All calculations involving movement that isn't a straight line, which happens to be quite a lot.

π radians is the usual method for expressing angles in trigonometry, as an angle is just going around a circle.

So, yeah. it's useless in 6th grade or whatever, but not in general.

Whaaaaaaattttttt...

[GDwarf]

Summary: Pi is probably the most useful number in math. Ever. It's more important than e.

[Λύσις]

Originally Posted by man_with_thooo

Yes, this is a question that's been bugging me for the longest time now. I've asked many of my math teachers, but even they don't know why pi had to be ~3.14 out of all random numbers. And how about the other decimal values? Where'd they come from?

I'd be really happy if somebody could answer this.

Nobody "came up with" pi. They didn't just randomly say "let's call the number 3.14... pi!"

[Sabbo]

I've got a related question: Before computers could figure out pi using a theoretical circle, how were the digits of pi figured out? It's not like there was a perfect circle to figure it out with.

[Puck]

Originally Posted by ZeldaMaster#1#1

Pi= 3.141592653.......

Pi is something almost useless. It only counts for circles. I've never heard of another place where Pi is used.

O_o

I use Pi every day....sometimes many, many, many times a day. Puck loves Pi, it's like his second favorite number next to c.

I've got a related question: Before computers could figure out pi using a theoretical circle, how were the digits of pi figured out? It's not like there was a perfect circle to figure it out with.

I'm not sure...Thats a good question...I have to go look into that *Scurries off to find out*

[Scott]

Wikipedia details multiple methods that people used.

Essentially, they took weeks of very careful calculation, using different formulas. Crazy stuff, really.

[Puck]

Originally Posted by Scott

Wikipedia details multiple methods that people used.

Essentially, they took weeks of very careful calculation, using different formulas. Crazy stuff, really.

Sort of makes us look lazy, with our super computers and what not.



Wikipedia is awsome.

[Scott]

Ah, but mathematics is all about finding ways to be more lazy efficient, Puck.

[Awkin]

Pi wasn't 'come up with' -- it just is. All these guys did was write it down.

It's not their fault that It's awkward.

[Scott]

*applauds Awkin*

This has been a surprise demonstration of a n00blish response to a thread: Not reading current discussion. A fine example, Awkin. Fantabulous.

[Awkin]

I thought it was quite good, yeah.

I thought it was an important point that had been seemingly overlooked by previous posters. I had read the discussion, but since that didn't interest me much I answered the original question and left.

That was a classic case of Scott taking people for more stupid than they actually are. Kudos to you.

[Λύσις]

Originally Posted by Awkin

I thought it was an important point that had been seemingly overlooked by previous posters.

Originally Posted by Lysis

Nobody "came up with" pi. They didn't just randomly say "let's call the number 3.14... pi!"

[Awkin]

*Squints*

A pox on you and your unreadable text colour.
Sorry Ly,

[GDwarf]

Originally Posted by Awkin

I thought it was an important point that had been seemingly overlooked by previous posters.

Originally Posted by GDwarf

Pi is simply a ratio.

If you look at any circle you'll find that it's circumference is always Pi times it's diameter.

So, if you take the circumference of any circle and divide it by its diameter you'll end up with Pi.

That's where it comes from.

*Ahem*

[jojo7548]

just look at my sig
there is Pi
just tell me if my sig is too long

[Adventurer]

I completely forget what Pi is used for again...

It's been 2 years since I've done math of any sort...

It's amazing what I've forgotten.