|
NISCAIR ONLINE PERIODICALS REPOSITORY (NOPR) >
NISCAIR PUBLICATIONS >
Popular Science Magazines >
Science Reporter >
SR Vol.47 [2010] >
SR Vol.47(04) [April 2010] >
| Title: | Unending journey of pi |
| Authors: | Iyer, Ramdas
Srivastava, Bharat Bhushan |
| Issue Date: | Apr-2010 |
| Publisher: | CSIR |
| Abstract: | Throughout the history of mathematics,
there have been many efforts to determine Pi more accurately and to understand
its nature; fascination with the number has even carried over into
non-mathematical culture. Many countries in the world even celebrate Pi
Day and Pi Approximation Day
to commemorate the significance of the value of Pi.Pi has been known for
almost 4000 years—but even if we calculate the number of seconds in those 4000
years and calculate pi to that number of places, we would still only be
approximating its actual value. It is very much rational to talk about this
irrational number, which means that its value cannot be expressed exactly as a
fraction m/n, where m and n are integers.
Consequently, its decimal representation never ends or repeats. It is also a
transcendental number, which implies, among other things, that no finite
sequence of algebraic operations on integers (powers, roots, sums, etc.) can be
equal to its value.
π
(sometimes written pi) is a
mathematical constant whose value is the ratio of any circle's circumference to
its diameter; this is the same value as the ratio of a circle's area to the
square of its radius. It is approximately equal to 3.14159 in the usual decimal
notation. π is one of the most important mathematical and physical constants:
many |
| Page(s): | 40-44 |
| ISSN: | 0036-8512 |
| Source: | SR Vol.47(04) [April 2010]
|
|
