139
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − + − − 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." 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 equate Pi to 3. Line 14:
Line 12: + +
no edit summary
'''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.'''
<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.
<big><math>\pi</math></big> is an [[irrational number]]; this means that it cannot be expressed as a fraction, and (therefore) cannot be expressed exactly as a decimal no matter how many decimal places it is carried out to.
<big><math>\pi</math></big> is an [[irrational number]]; this means that it cannot be expressed as a fraction, and (therefore) cannot be expressed exactly as a decimal no matter how many decimal places it is carried out to.
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.
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.
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." 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 equate Pi to 3.
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).