# What is unit , when we speak about ∏?

1. Dec 25, 2011

### pairofstrings

What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

The video says that we are taking a 1 unit circle and if we want to find the diameter of this unit circle then we just use the ruler as shown in the video. And now the length of the diameter of this circle is called as PI (∏), which is approximately 3.14 ! And it is constant value with no units!?
My question is:
1. What is this "unit" he is talking about?
2. How much is 1 unit? Can this unit be 1 cm in length?
3. How do we measure the length of this 1 unit?

Last edited by a moderator: Sep 25, 2014
2. Dec 25, 2011

### awkward

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

Hi pairofstrings,

As used in the video, "unit" just means 1 unit in some system of measurement. If you are measuring things in centimeters, then it's one centimeter. If you are measuring things in light-years, then it's one light-year.

Yes, pi is a constant with no units, because it is a ratio-- the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.

Note: The video refers to a circle whose diameter is one unit as a "unit circle". More often than not, mathematicians use "unit circle" to mean a circle whose _radius_ is one unit. So beware when you see this phrase used.

3. Dec 25, 2011

### pairofstrings

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

But why are we dividing circumference by diameter. We can also divide circumference by radius if we want. And why only division, we can also add, subtract or multiply. Right?

4. Dec 25, 2011

### awkward

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

Yes, we can divide the circumference by the radius if we want, and if we do the result will be about 6.28. But by tradition we call the circumference divided by the diameter "pi". If we divide by the radius then the result will be two times pi.

If we add the add the circumference to the diameter we don't get anything particularly useful. The same goes for subtracting. But if we multiply the circumference by the radius, this turns out (surprise!) to be twice the area of the circle.

5. Dec 26, 2011

### pairofstrings

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

The general equation is ∏ = Circumference/ Diameter.

That means, if we take any number of circles with different circumferences and divide it by Diameter we are getting the answer as ∏. Which is approximately(?) 3.14.

Now, I understood what your first paragraph meant.

But from what I understand, the second paragraph says this: " if we multiply the circumference by the radius, this turns out (surprise!) to be twice the area of the circle "

Now, from the above discussion, ∏ = C/ D.
Now, we know that circumference C of a circle is C = ∏ x D. But D = 2r.
So, now, C = ∏ x 2r, which is the circumference of a circle. If we multiply C with r,
C x r = (∏ x 2r) x r

We only get the same result, i.e., C = ∏ x 2r.
Okay, so, (∏ x 2r) x r = 2 ( ∏ x r2 ). Right?
Okay, I think now I should look at why area of circle is ∏ x r2.

Please tell me what's the surprise thing in Fibonacci numbers.
I know that in Fibonacci numbers the sum of last two numbers will determine the next number in the series. But why consider only the last two numbers?

Please tell me what's the surprise thing in PHI ∅.

I know that the ratio is 1: 1.6180... and it's the Golden ratio.
But what are they still calculating about 1.6180... ?
And also when we break open a unit circle on a ruler to measure it's circumference, shouldn't it give the accurate value of the circumference's length using the ruler? What are the scientists still calculating about 3.14... ?

Last edited: Dec 26, 2011
6. Dec 26, 2011

### JHamm

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

The area of a circle can be found using calculus, probably something not quite up your street yet.
With Fibonacci numbers you COULD add the last three, but that pattern isn't seen much (ever?) in any work so it wouldn't be very helpful or interesting to examine.
The golden ratio is irrational, that means that it has an infinite number of non repeating decimal numbers which cannot be written as a fraction of integers, it is aesthetically appealing in geometry.
You might find it difficult to break open a circle of known radius, but you are welcome to try.

7. Dec 26, 2011

### Staff: Mentor

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

When you use colored text, please put some thought into how it will display. The text in "plum" below is almost invisible against a light blue background.
Did you have a question about why C*r = 2$\pi$r2?

Suppose you had a square that was d units by d units. Its area would be given by the formula A = d2.

The distance from the center of the square to any of the four sides would be d/2. Let's call this r. By simple geometry, we could write the area as A = 4r2, which is the same as 4(d/2)2.

Now draw a circle of radius r = d/2 inside the square. Since the circle is smaller than the square, we would expect the area of the circle to be less than the area of the square, say about 3/4 of the area of the square. It turns out that the area of the circle is slightly larger than this, namely A = $\pi$/4 (d/2)2. The way you usually see this formula is A = $\pi$r2, and the details are usually shown in a calculus class.
Because that's how the Fibonacci sequence is defined; namely, that the nth term in the sequence is obtained by adding the two previous terms together.

I don't understand what you are asking in the last two questions. For the first, what do you mean by "But what are they still calculating about 1.6180... ?"

And for the second, what does this mean? "What are the scientists still calculating about 3.14... ?"

8. Dec 26, 2011

### pairofstrings

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

My understanding::

Suppose I have a thread(string). Let's say, it is 1 cm long. If I make a circle by attaching ends of this threads together then the circumference of this circle should be same as the length of this thread. Now I will take ratio of circumference to diameter and it will me a number. Let's call it number1.

Now I did another experiment, but this time I will vary the length of the thread, let's take 2 cms and again I will create a circle with this thread and take the ratio and again I will find that it's a number. Let's call it number 2.

But we found something. The two numbers, number1 and number2 have something to do with ∏. I mean they have something in common. Maybe, number2 is a multiple of number1. And number1 is ∏. Why is ∏ an irrational number of infinite number of digits after the decimal point? Is it because the ratio circumference/diameter is always going to give an irrational number? How about the case when I take the circumference of the circle such a way that when I divide the circumference by the diameter of a circle, it gives me a rational number. Possible? With this case in mind, why the circle only has to be a unit circle? ... Just to get ∏? I mean there must be some reason for considering using a unit circle, which is the question of this thread in some sense.

EDIT:
I found the answers to questions above.
My mistake: I thought, since ∏ = circumference/ diameter, I can take circumference of one circle and diameter of a different circle in the same ∏ equation, which is wrong.
The correct situation is that if you take circumference of a circle then diameter of the same circle should be taken, and if we do that, we always get ∏. The reason why we always get ∏ is, suppose if we increase the circumference of a circle the diameter of this circle also automatically increase. So, yes the observation that there is always a ∏ is correct.

A = ∏/4 (d/2)2 ? How did you get 4 in the denominator?

My understanding about the Golden ratio::

We know that things are aesthetically appealing in geometry when some pattern is in the ratio 1:1.6180 ...

My question is: why the value 1.6180 ... is not accurately defined?
Same question could apply to the value of ∏. But I understand, that, if ∏ is a ratio of two other numbers, and their division is yielding an irrational number and hence we are in the process of calculating the exact number of ∏.
So, how about 1.6180 ... ? Why still inaccurate?

I am sorry but a teacher expect a lot from the students. They think students are suppose to figure out "few" things by themselves and I was not taught about these things. They write stuff on the board and give the "definition" and read it. And we are suppose to memorize it. Or do what I am doing now - that's because, I don't like using definitions and formulas without understanding the core concepts.

Last edited: Dec 26, 2011
9. Dec 26, 2011

### JHamm

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

The golden ratio is defined as $\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2}$, as has already been pointed out it is irrational which means you can never fully write it out without using root symbols.
With your questions on $\pi$, dividing the circumference of a circle by its diameter will always give you $\pi$, it doesn't matter how big you make your circle that ratio is always $\pi$.

10. Dec 26, 2011

### pairofstrings

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

Please explain how did you get the following expression ?

$\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2}$ (if you are unable to read the expression, refresh the page)

Yes, I learned the reason why it's always ∏. I edited my original post.

Now, I need answer to above question, and
Post #8: figure explanation.
Post #8: A = ∏/4 (d/2)2 ? How did you get 4 in the denominator?

Last edited: Dec 26, 2011
11. Dec 26, 2011

### BloodyFrozen

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

$\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2}$ comes from the definition of the golden ratio.

From Wikipedia:

So, if we split apart the first fraction, we get:
Since $\phi$ was defined to be also $\frac{a}{b}$, then $\frac{b}{a}=\frac{1}{\phi}$
Now we multiply both sides by $\phi$.
We are only considering the positive root, so
$$\phi=\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2}\approx 1.6180339887...$$

12. Dec 26, 2011

### awkward

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

Actually, the series where you add the last three numbers is called the "tribonacci numbers", or more generally, if you add the last n numbers, it's the "n-step fibonacci numbers". These numbers have applications in probability theory and computer science.

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Fibonaccin-StepNumber.html

13. Dec 27, 2011

### pairofstrings

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

How did you get that fraction marked in blue? What that fraction means?

why a+b is not divided by b? I understood the later steps but I need to know how the first step came into existence.

Last edited: Dec 27, 2011
14. Dec 27, 2011

### dalcde

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

It's part of the definition (so the only explanation of why it is so is because we want it to be so).

15. Dec 27, 2011

### JHamm

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

If you divide by b instead of a you end up with exactly the same number, this is a naming convention, call them "bert" and "ernie" if you please.

16. Dec 27, 2011

### pairofstrings

Re: What is "unit", when we speak about ∏?

You are saying that, if $\frac{a+b}{a}$ = $\frac{a}{b}$ = $\varphi$

Let's solve the above numbers from figure

$\frac{5+3}{5}$ = $\frac{8}{5}$ = 1.6

$\frac{a}{b}$ = $\frac{5}{3}$ $\approx$ 1.6

Which is again an observation made by the mathematicians just like the value of ∏.