# Homework Help: Numeric result for an integral solution to pi

1. Jul 13, 2010

### Danimel

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
I am posting for my son, who needs the full readout for a formula, more than what a small graphing calculator can do. Is there such a program for that? Am I in the right place to get an answer for this?
I would appreciate any help in this for my mathmatical skills are limited, and I would like to help my son who is in prison and does not have access to computers of any sort.

2. Relevant equations
I need the numeric result of "2 times the inverted sign of 1 minus the inverted sign of 0."
Does it go on forever or does it end?

3. The attempt at a solution
A friend calculated this on a small graphing calculator and got 3.14159265359. What my son needs to know is does this differ from the normal pi with 3.14159265358, or was the calculator simply rounding off the number for the sake of the calculator and its limited displaying capabilities?
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

2. Jul 13, 2010

### Mentallic

That numerical approximation (which most calculators give) is awfully close to pi. If it's not... well this problem must've been made purposely for the sole intent of deceiving.

I don't understand what the question means though.
You might want to try the wolfram calculator, it gives exact answers wherever possible. But you also need to know the syntax to type in the correct question, so if you can be more clear about what the question is, we could help you more with this.

http://www.wolframalpha.com/index.html" [Broken]

Last edited by a moderator: May 4, 2017
3. Jul 13, 2010

### HallsofIvy

What do "The inverted sign of 1" and "the inverted sign of 0" mean?

4. Jul 13, 2010

### Danimel

I want to thank those who responded to the question posed. It was not a question meant to deceive or trick. My apologies. My son, as I said before, is in prison with no access to computers or calculators. He felt through the work that he had been doing that he had found a finite solution to pi, which I have discovered in my inquiry into this, has already been attempted/done. I would like to thank the person who referred me to the wolframalpha site. Quite helpful. I was simply an English, French, theatre major mom lost in the realm of mathematics on a quest to help her son find answers.

Last edited: Jul 13, 2010
5. Jul 14, 2010

### PinkCrayon

I think she means inverse sine.

6. Jul 15, 2010

### Danimel

I did, and thank you, PinkCrayon. This whole thing has been resolved. I have a renewed appreciation for all mathematical minds of this site. Signing off...and this time it is spelled correctly!

7. Jul 16, 2010

### Mentallic

Ohh you were looking for $$2sin^{-1}(1)-sin^{-1}(0)$$ haha I did sit down to think about what you might mean and this never occurred to me.

8. Jul 16, 2010

### Danimel

Sorry, for the confusion, Mentallic, and thank you, too, for the wolframalpha site suggestion.