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How is the number Pi, derived?

  1. Mar 5, 2010 #1

    ruko

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    How is the number 3.14159..........etc, derived? I know it has been calculated out to very great lengths and I'm wondering how it's done.
     
    ruko, Mar 5, 2010
  2. jcsd
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  3. Mar 5, 2010 #2

    hotvette

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    Homework Helper

    hotvette, Mar 5, 2010
  4. Mar 6, 2010 #3

    MWIGuy

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    Re: Pi

    Just find the proportion of radius to circumferance, I believe. I know it is some kind of proportion.
     
    MWIGuy, Mar 6, 2010
  5. Mar 6, 2010 #4

    Unit

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    Re: Pi

    My personal favourite:

    [tex]\frac2\pi = \frac{\sqrt2}2 \cdot \frac{\sqrt{2+\sqrt2}}2 \cdot \frac{\sqrt{2+\sqrt{2+\sqrt2}}}2 \cdot \cdots\![/tex]

    :smile:
     
    Unit, Mar 6, 2010
  6. Mar 6, 2010 #5

    hotvette

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    Re: Pi

    Modern calculation of pi no doubt use infinite series, first formulated in Newton's time (mid 1600's). Archimedes used circumscribed polygons w/ 96 sides to calculate pi with three digit accuracy.
     
    hotvette, Mar 6, 2010
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