What is Pi? 1. the 16 th letter of the Greek alphabet 2. the consonant sound represented by this letter. 3. Math. A. the letter π, used as the symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. B. the ratio itself:

What is Pi? Pi is the ratio of the circle to the square, where one side of the square is the circle’s radius. Math historians often state that the Egyptians thought π = (256/810. In fact, there is no direct evidence that the Egyptians conceived of a constant number π, much less tried to calculate it. Rather they were simply interested in finding the relationship between the circle and the square, probably to accomplish the task of precisely measuring land and buildings.

What is Pi? The Great Pyramid at Giza has a fascinating relationship inherent in its structure: The ratio of the length of one side to the height is approximately π/2. Egyptologists and followers of mysticism have supposed for centuries what this means and why it is, for the approximation is significantly better than the value for pi that the ancient Egyptians are understood to have known. However, Herodotus wrote that the pyramid was built so that the area of each lateral face would equal the area of a square that had one side as long as the pyramid was tall. It can be shown that any pyramid with this framework will automatically approximate pi. (WOW!)

Hmmm… When Greek philosophers found that the square root of 2 is not a rational number, they celebrated the discovery by sacrificing 100 oxen. The much more profound discovery that π is a transcendental number deserves a greater sacrifice. Again mathematics triumphed over common sense. In the Greek alphabet, π is the sixteenth letter (and 16 is the square of 4). In the English alphabet, p is also the sixteenth letter, and i is the ninth letter (the square of 3). Add them up (16 + 9), and you get 25 (the square of 5). Multiply them (16x9) and you get 144 (the square of 12). Divide 9 by 16, and you get (the square of.75). It’s no wonder that they say, “Pi are squared!”

Memorizing Pi Pi is not just a collection of random digits. Pi is a journey; an experience; unless you try to see the natural poetry that exists in pi, you will find it very difficult to learn. (A. Basman) In 1995, a twelve year old Chinese boy recited the value of pi to 4,000 decimal places. It took twenty-five minutes. In 1983, a man recited 31,811 digits of pi. In 1995 a twenty-three year old recited 42,000 digits of pi.

Memorizing Pi “How I wish I could calculate pi” Sir, I bear a rhyme excelling In mystic force and magic spelling Celestial spirits elucidate All my own striving can’t relate. Or locate they who can cogitate And so finally terminate. Finis.

Memorizing Pi p://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=pi+day+song&n=2 1&ei=utf-8&fr=yfp-t-501&fr2=tab-img&tnr= p://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=pi+day+song&n=2 1&ei=utf-8&fr=yfp-t-501&fr2=tab-img&tnr= Probably no symbol in mathematics has evoked as much mystery, romanticism, misconception and human interest as the number pi (π)

Memorizing Pi Learning many digits of pi carries with it certain severe dangers, and can do mental damage that takes a long time to heal. The mind knows perfectly well that learning digits of pi is not something to its benefit, and is likely to take severe retaliation against you once it works out what you are doing…If you start to feel these effects, stop learning immediately. ( A. Basman)

Pi Facts The height of an elephant (from foot to shoulder) is 2πx(diameter of its foot) π is the symbol Sandra Bullock clicks on to gain access to unauthorized databases on the Web in the movie The Net. If a string were tied around the equator of the earth (assuming the earth were perfectly round, which it isn’t), the string would have to be 2 π feet longer in order to sit 1 foot off the surface of the globe.

Pi Facts What do you get if you divide the circumference of a jack-o- lantern by its diameter? Pumpkin π