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The Number (pie)

The number ƒàƒnis used in math all the time, for finding the circumferences and areas of circles, amongst other things, but how much do students really understand about ƒàƒn? They know that it stands for the number 3.14 and that if you¡¦re going to pass any of the higher math levels you have to be familiar with the equations its used in, but how did such a number come to be, and how are its uses applied?
In order to find ƒnƒàƒnmathematicians use algorithms. A common and simple algorithm to use isƒnƒà/2 = 2/1 * 2/3 * 4/3 * 4/5 * 6/5 * 6/7¡Kand so on. This particular method for finding ƒàƒnwas discovered by John Wallis.
The number Pi has been around since ancient Babylonian time and has been in use, in some form, as early as the creation of the wheel. Reference is even made to the concept of ƒàƒn in the Bible. Around four thousand years ago the Babylonians and the Egyptians discovered that the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter was abou...

Posted by: Sheryl Hogges

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