Geometry of circles and polygons.

[JDude13]

I have found an equation which deals with regular polygons touching circles tangentially with each of their sides.

$$P=Dn\tan(\frac{180}{n})$$
where
$$P$$ is the perimeter of the polygon.
$$D$$ is the diameter of the circle.
$$n$$ is the number of sides on the polygon.

i originaly thought it would be useful for approximating pi but now I am not sure it has a use.

Tell me what you think.

 

[olivermsun]

Depends partly on how you planned to compute the tangent function.

 

[JDude13]

Umm... I am in yr 11
degrees, i guess. Should i have specified that? I couldn't figure out how to put the degrees sign in LaTeX.

 

[olivermsun]

I guess what was trying to say is that actually computing tan x is the trick. If you can already do it with, say, a calculator, then you don't really need to "approximate" pi! :)

 

[JDude13]

I guess what was trying to say is that actually computing tan x is the trick. If you can already do it with, say, a calculator, then you don't really need to "approximate" pi! :)

do you mean that because I am using a calculator that i may as well just go
$$\pi=$$
?
I guess youre right.
But since its not used for approximating pi, at least it fueled my mathematic curiosity for 15 mins :P
Maybe it has a use somewhere else... :/