Pi Day

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Abstract

o first determined the approximate value of π.Why do we celebrate π (pi)? You probably know that it’s not so much a celebration that we do as it is a remembrance and an appreciation. March 14 or 3/14 is called Pi Day because the value of pi is approximately 3.14. But you knew that.But did you know that Archimedes of Syracuse (287–212 BC), perhaps the greatest mathematician of the ancient world, did the first calculation of π (pi)?How did he do it?First, he knew that the ratio of the circumference of a circle (C)to its diameter (d) was a fixed number. That number he called π, the Greek letter “p” which can stand for perimeter or distance around an object. In mathematical terms:π = C/dThere’s a cool <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUVx0TQaxME&t=83s">video</a> on YouTube that describes how Archimedes may have calculated t

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he value of π. He used a process of successively finer and finer approximations. He started with a circle of diameter 1 (circumference pi) and drew the smallest square he could around it. That square had a perimeter of 4, so Archimedes knew the value of pi (the circumference of the circle) was less than 4.By drawing polygons with more and more sides, and calculating their perimeters, he got closer and closer to the value of pi. There’s another excellent video on YouTube showing the process and using a spreadsheet to do the calculations <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rJdkhlWZVQ">here</a>. Easy peasy, right? Too bad good old Archimedes didn’t have a computer and a spreadsheet. He didn’t even have a calculator.Now that you know how Archimedes calculated pi, I bet you are ready for a piece of pie. I know I am. Make mine blueberry and I’ll have it a la mode, please.</article></body>

What does it mean, Alfie?

I was going to celebrate Pi Day (March 14) by getting a piece of pie at our local grocery store, but I didn’t get there. (That’s probably a good thing for my waistline.) Now the day has passed, and I didn’t find time to finish this piece either. So here it is a day late but hopefully not a dollar short.

If you are a nerd like me, you’ll enjoy learning about the process of calculating pi. If not, I hope you’ll at least take a few minutes to puzzle over it and marvel at the wisdom of the man who first determined the approximate value of π.

Why do we celebrate π (pi)? You probably know that it’s not so much a celebration that we do as it is a remembrance and an appreciation. March 14 or 3/14 is called Pi Day because the value of pi is approximately 3.14. But you knew that.

But did you know that Archimedes of Syracuse (287–212 BC), perhaps the greatest mathematician of the ancient world, did the first calculation of π (pi)?

How did he do it?

First, he knew that the ratio of the circumference of a circle (C)to its diameter (d) was a fixed number. That number he called π, the Greek letter “p” which can stand for perimeter or distance around an object. In mathematical terms:

π = C/d

There’s a cool video on YouTube that describes how Archimedes may have calculated the value of π. He used a process of successively finer and finer approximations. He started with a circle of diameter 1 (circumference pi) and drew the smallest square he could around it. That square had a perimeter of 4, so Archimedes knew the value of pi (the circumference of the circle) was less than 4.

By drawing polygons with more and more sides, and calculating their perimeters, he got closer and closer to the value of pi. There’s another excellent video on YouTube showing the process and using a spreadsheet to do the calculations here. Easy peasy, right? Too bad good old Archimedes didn’t have a computer and a spreadsheet. He didn’t even have a calculator.

Now that you know how Archimedes calculated pi, I bet you are ready for a piece of pie. I know I am. Make mine blueberry and I’ll have it a la mode, please.