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Line 12: − − In the Bible, 1 Kings 7:23 contains the famous 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." This quotation predates Greek mathematics and is an example of the wisdom contained in the bible.
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'''Pi''' is the name for the Greek letter <big><big><math>\pi</math></big></big>, which corresponds to the English letter '''p.'''
'''Pi''' is the name for the Greek letter <big><big><math>\pi</math></big></big>, which corresponds to the English letter '''p.'''
In the Bible, 1 Kings 7:23 contains the famous 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." This quotation predates Greek mathematics and is an example of the wisdom contained in the bible. The Bible however says Pi is 3.
<big><math>\pi</math></big> is also the symbol used in mathematics for the ratio between the diameter of a circle and its circumference, and which appears in many other places.
<big><math>\pi</math></big> is also the symbol used in mathematics for the ratio between the diameter of a circle and its circumference, and which appears in many other places.
To some extent, the progress of mathematics—or at least of computation—can be gauged by the progress in the number of digits to which <big><math>\pi</math></big> has been calculated. 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: can you figure out why not?
To some extent, the progress of mathematics—or at least of computation—can be gauged by the progress in the number of digits to which <big><math>\pi</math></big> has been calculated. 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: can you figure out why not?
Papyrys of Ahmes, dated c. 1650 B.C.E. circa 1000 years before Book of Kings, shows that ancient Egyptians had value 3 1/6 = 3.166666667, which is significantly closer to biblical value. Same goes with Babylonian value from same time <big><math>\pi</math></big> 3 1/8 = 3.125(Boyer, A History of Mathematics, 2nd Edition).
Papyrys of Ahmes, dated c. 1650 B.C.E. circa 1000 years before Book of Kings, shows that ancient Egyptians had value 3 1/6 = 3.166666667, which is significantly closer to biblical value. Same goes with Babylonian value from same time <big><math>\pi</math></big> 3 1/8 = 3.125(Boyer, A History of Mathematics, 2nd Edition).