While it is true that the decimal representation of \(\pi\) has an infinite number of digits, in truth, modern-day NASA would only need around 16 digits of \(\pi\) to be able to calculate precise distances for orbiting spacecrafts-a benchmark achieved centuries before NASA even existed! 2002 Al-Kashi generated a number able to calculate the size of the universe within the "width of a horse's hair," in effect setting the world record for 180 years. The Egyptian pyramids of Cheops and Sneferu at Gizeh both have a ratio of half the perimeter to the height equal to \(3\frac\) sides. The first known people to hunt for \(\pi\) were Babylonians and Egyptians, around 5000 years ago. Take a look at the mathematicians and thinkers who have helped advance our knowledge of the number today. The number \(\pi\) has been studied, calculated, and thought about around the world dating back as far as 3000 BC. For as long as mathematicians around the globe have been thinking about circles, they have been discovering new ways to approximate and calculate \(\pi\). While we use the Greek letter \(\pi\) because of the influence of its Greek origins, the number simply represents a universal idea: the ratio between the circumference and diameter of a circle. There is no simple, single origin of the number. This history includes some mathematical concepts intended for an older student audience, such as limits and infinite series. Below, you can explore some of the global highlights. (If you teach high school, you might want to check out our article 11 Pi Day Activities for High School Students.) But it doesn't just have to be in March! The number \(\pi\) has a long and rich history that can tie into lessons all year round.īy high school, students have likely encountered plenty of \(\pi\) already and may even be equipped to learn about some of its history. ICLE (International Center for Leadership in Education)Ĭustomer Service & Technical Support Portalīy the time March comes around each year, many math teachers commemorate the number \(\pi\) because of the resemblance between the date 3/14 and the number 3.14. Into Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, 8-12 Science & Engineering Leveled Readers, K-5
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