Changes

To some extent, the progress of mathematics&mdash;or at least of computation&mdash;can be gauged by the progress in the number of digits to which <big><math>\pi</math></big> has been calculated.  

To some extent, the progress of mathematics&mdash;or at least of computation&mdash;can be gauged by the progress in the number of digits to which <big><math>\pi</math></big> has been calculated.  

In the Bible, 1 Kings 7:23 contains the passage "And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about." Making many assumptions<ref>Assuming that: the "sea" is perfectly circular; the measurements are to be understood as exact; the measurement of the "compass" and across the "brim" are measurements of the same circle, rather, than say, exterior and interior measurements of a wide lip; etc.</ref> this quotation (which predates Greek mathematics) would appear to equate Pi to 3.

In the Bible, 1 Kings 7:23 contains the passage "And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about." Making many assumptions<ref>Assuming that: the "sea" is perfectly circular; the measurements are to be understood as exact; the measurement of the "compass" and across the "brim" are measurements of the same circle, rather, than say, exterior and interior measurements of a wide lip; etc.</ref> this quotation (which predates Greek mathematics) would appear to approximate Pi as 3.

Papyrus of Ahmes, dated c. 1650 B.C. circa 1000 years before Book of Kings, shows that ancient Egyptians had value 3 1/6 = 3.166666667. The Babylonian value from same time <big><math>\pi</math></big> 3 1/8 = 3.125<ref>Boyer, A History of Mathematics, 2nd Edition</ref>.

Papyrus of Ahmes, dated c. 1650 B.C. circa 1000 years before Book of Kings, shows that ancient Egyptians had value 3 1/6 = 3.166666667. The Babylonian value from same time <big><math>\pi</math></big> 3 1/8 = 3.125<ref>Boyer, A History of Mathematics, 2nd Edition</ref>.

In 1873, Abraham Shanks spent twenty years calculating <big><math>\pi</math></big> to 707 places, but unfortunately made a mistake in his calculation and only 527 of them were correct. When electronic computers were developed, <big><math>\pi</math></big> was soon calculated to tens of thousands, millions, and billions of places. As of 2002, the record is held by Yasumasa Kanada of Tokyo University at 1,241,100,000,000 digits. That result was never printed out.

In 1873, Abraham Shanks spent twenty years calculating <big><math>\pi</math></big> to 707 places, but made a mistake in his calculation and only 527 of them were correct. When electronic computers were developed, <big><math>\pi</math></big> was soon calculated to tens of thousands, millions, and billions of places. As of 2002, the record is held by Yasumasa Kanada of Tokyo University at 1,241,100,000,000 digits. That result was never printed out.

==Recreational use==

==Recreational use==