Questions tagged [pi]

The number $\pi$ is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. Understanding its various properties and computing its numerical value drove the study of much mathematics throughout history. Questions regarding this special number and its properties fit in here.

$\pi$ is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. Its definition is modern analysis is (by Karl Weierstrass) $$ \pi = \int_{-1}^1 \frac{dx}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}. $$ An alternative definition, popularised by Landau is: Define $\frac{\pi}{2}$ as the smallest positive root of the cosine function.

It can also be given by the Gregory-Leibniz series (exhibits sublinear convergence) $$ \pi = 4 \sum_{j=0}^\infty \frac{(-1)^j}{2j+1}. $$ $\pi$ has the approximate numerical value $3.14159265358979323846\dots$, can be approximated by fractions, for example, $\frac{22}{7}, \frac{333}{106}, \frac{355}{113},\dots$, and is both irrational and transcendental.

It is part of Euler's famous identity:

$$e^{i\pi}+1=0.$$

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Could PI have a different value in a different universe?

The value of pi is determined by the circumference of a circle. Why is it any particular constant number? Would a circle as defined as a perfect circle in any universe lead to a different value of pi? Would all universes where a circle could be…
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A strange occurrence in the decimal digits of $\pi$?

I was messing around with various ways to calculate $\pi$ with my computer, and I noticed something a bit strange. I was using $\frac{1}{1}-\frac{1}{3}+\frac{1}{5}-\frac{1}{7}+... = \frac{\pi}{4}$, and computing this sum to varying degrees of…
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Geometric explanation of $\sqrt 2 + \sqrt 3 \approx \pi$

Just curious, is there a geometry picture explanation to show that $\sqrt 2 + \sqrt 3 $ is close to $ \pi $?
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Can Euler's identity be extended to quaternions?

Euler's identity is $e^{i \pi} + 1 = 0$, a special case of the Euler's formula $e^{i\theta} = \cos\theta + i\sin\theta$, where $\theta = \pi$ (half-turn of the unit circle). It is commonly described as "beautiful" because it is simple and includes a…
endolith
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Unexpected appearances of $\pi^2 /~6$.

"The number $\frac 16 \pi^2$ turns up surprisingly often and frequently in unexpected places." - Julian Havil, Gamma: Exploring Euler's Constant. It is well-known, especially in 'pop math,'…
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Do We Need the Digits of $\pi$?

I was reading today that someone found $\pi$ to the ten trillionth digit. Whenever I read that $\pi$ has been calculated to more digits, I ask myself whether this is useful. I know that there are conjectures out there about distributions of…
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Is there a sufficiently reachable plausibility argument that $\pi$ is irrational?

I was teaching someone earlier today (precisely, a twelve-year-old) and we came upon a problem on circles. Little did I know in what direction it would lead. I was able to give a quick plausibility argument that all circles are similar and that they…
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Proving that $e^{\pi}-{\pi}^e\lt 1$ without using a calculator

Prove that $e^{\pi}-{\pi}^e\lt 1$ without using a calculator. I did in the following way. Are there other ways? Proof : Let $f(x)=e\pi\frac{\ln x}{x}$. Then, $$e^{\pi}-{\pi}^e=e^{f(e)}-{e}^{f(\pi)}\tag1$$ Now, $$f'(x)=\frac{e\pi(1-\ln…
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Is there an integral for $\pi^4-\frac{2143}{22}$?

In Ramanujan's Notebooks, Vol 4, p.48 (and a related one in Quarterly Journal of Mathematics, XLV, 1914) there are various approximations, including the close (by just $10^{-7}$), $$\pi^4 \approx 2^4+3^4+\frac{1}{2+\Big(\frac{2}{3}\Big)^2} =…
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How are the known digits of $\pi$ guaranteed?

When discussing with my son a few of the many methods to calculate the digits of $\pi$ (15 yo school level), I realized that the methods I know more or less (geometric approximation, Monte Carlo and basic series) are all convergent but none of them…
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Is sin(x) necessarily irrational where x is rational?

My friend and I were discussing this and we couldn't figure out how to prove it one way or another. The only rational values I can figure out for $\sin(x)$ (or $\cos(x)$, etc...) come about when $x$ is some product of a fraction of $\pi$. Is…
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Series that converge to $\pi$ quickly

I know the series, $4-{4\over3}+{4\over5}-{4\over7}...$ converges to $\pi$ but I have heard many people say that while this is a classic example, there are series that converge much faster. Does anyone know of any?
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Did Euclid prove that $\pi$ is constant?

Pi is defined the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, but of course different circles have different circumferences and diameters, so in order for it to be well-defined we need to show that the ratios for any two circles is the…
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On Shanks' quartic approximation $\pi \approx \frac{6}{\sqrt{3502}}\ln(2u)$

In Mathworld's "Pi Approximations", (line 58), Weisstein mentions one by the mathematician Daniel Shanks that differs by a mere $10^{-82}$, $$\pi \approx \frac{6}{\sqrt{3502}}\ln(2u)\color{blue}{+10^{-82}}\tag{1}$$ and says that $u$ is a product of…
Tito Piezas III
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Pi Estimation using Integers

I ran across this problem in a high school math competition: "You must use the integers $1$ to $9$ and only addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and exponentiation to approximate the number $\pi$ as accurately as possible. Each integer…
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