Maths Fans - Pi

Raymond-Bergman · Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 3:12 pm Post subject: Maths Fans - Pi

Ok we all know that Pi is 3.142.....

But how did early maths bods know that the ratio of circumference to diameter was the same for all circles?

Its something thats puzzled me for a long time, anyone have a clue?

Guest · Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 3:35 pm Post subject:

By measuring it, painfully, making approximations, at least until trigonmetry came along and the ability to offer a proof.

blobrana · Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 3:48 pm Post subject:

Hum,
perhaps its not always true.

It just might be that in our part of space that there is a bit left over when we divide a circle...

Guest · Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 4:24 pm Post subject:

that is the relationship between math and logic: proofs.

Buffyphile · Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 7:55 pm Post subject:

Due to the fact that all parts of the circumference are equidistant from the centre, otherwise it is not a circle but a polygon, there is a known change in all dimensions equally with the movement in the dimension of any dimension of the radius or circumference.

That is to say if you change the radii of the object in order to accommodate the change the circumference has to move away from the centre yet still remain intact so has to move by an equal proportion.

Pi itself is used as a measure to determine this proportional change as it can't be represented as a real number (3.142 is an approximation) to be accurate Pi goes to hundreds of decimal places but the number used will give a good enough result for most people.

427v8 · You Go Girl (100+ Posts) Joined: 08 May 2005 Posts: 187

Chad05 · Guest

Tina TV · Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 11:18 pm Post subject:

long-leggedy-annie · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 7:52 am Post subject:

Raymond-Bergman · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 7:46 pm Post subject:

PooftersUnited · Guest

Buffyphile · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 9:23 pm Post subject:

Raymond-Bergman · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 9:23 pm Post subject:

mostirreverent · Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 4:00 am Post subject:

is a circle not and a polygone whose sides are infinite in number. if so, then by definition, how can Pi be and approximation? if a monkey is on a cross, pi has something to do with his tail. all hail Jessie Helms and Jerry Falwell

good movie BTW.

Raymond-Bergman · Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 3:59 pm Post subject: