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:

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

1624 questions
76
votes
32 answers

Interesting and unexpected applications of $\pi$

$\text{What are some interesting cases of $\pi$ appearing in situations that do not seem geometric?}$ Ever since I saw the identity $$\displaystyle \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^2} = \frac{\pi^2}{6}$$ and the generalization of $\zeta (2k)$, my…
MT_
  • 19,603
  • 9
  • 40
  • 81
45
votes
10 answers

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…
Phil
  • 793
34
votes
5 answers

Does the number pi have any significance besides being the ratio of a circle's diameter to its circumference?

Pi appears a LOT in trigonometry, but only because of its 'circle-significance'. Does pi ever matter in things not concerned with circles? Is its only claim to fame the fact that its irrational and an important ratio?
24
votes
2 answers

Why is it so difficult to determine whether or not $\Large \pi^{\pi^{\pi^\pi}}$ is an integer?

I have heard that it is unknown whether or not $\Large \pi^{\pi^{\pi^\pi}}$ is an integer. How can this be? $\pi$ is known to many digits and it seems like only a matter of time on a computer to find the integer part or to find that there must be a…
user157227
  • 2,024
  • 13
  • 30
19
votes
2 answers

(UPDATED) Why didn't Archimedes further approximate $\pi$ this way (or did he)?

Update is at bottom of my post. I saw on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rJdkhlWZVQ) a way to approximate $\pi$ starting with a hexagon inscribed inside a circle of unit radius. It uses formulas and relies on doubling the numbers of sides…
David
  • 1,702
13
votes
2 answers

Are the first $n$ digits of $\pi$ equal to the second $n$ digits for some $n\ge1$?

Are the first $n$ digits of $\pi$ equal to the second $n$ digits for some $n\ge1$? $$\pi \stackrel{?}{=}\underbrace{3.1415926\ldots}_{\text{the first }n\text{ digits}}~\underbrace{31415926\ldots}_{\begin{array}{c}\text{the same }n\text{…
Řídící
  • 3,210
13
votes
6 answers

How does atan(1) * 4 equal PI?

I needed the PI constant in C++, and I was lead to the answer that: const PI = atan(1) * 4 Note that despite involving code, I'm asking this from a mathematics perspective. I have 2 questions about this: Is this an estimation of PI, or should it…
12
votes
1 answer

Using Bellard's formula for calculating $\pi$?

I don't have any experience with these types of formulae and am finding it difficult understanding how to use Bellards formula. Say I wanted to get the $3^\text{rd}$ digit of $\pi$ (which equals 1), would I simply replace all the instances of $n$…
Shane
  • 223
11
votes
5 answers

What is the last digit of $\pi$?

I want to know: what is the last digit of $\pi$? Some people say there are no such thing, but they fail to mention why.
Joel
  • 177
11
votes
6 answers

What is gained by computing additional digits of $\pi$?

Possible Duplicate: Do We Need the Digits of $\pi$? Given that at 39 digits, we have enough of $\pi$ to calculate the volume of the known universe with (literally!) atomic precision, what value is gained? Are there other formulas for which more…
10
votes
3 answers

Converting $\pi$ to senary base

We are decorating the ginger bread house and want to write out $\pi$ on the roof. We have candy with $6$ different colors so we want to use the senary number as the base. What would $\pi$ be with $44$ digits in the senary number base? We decided to…
Anders
  • 205
9
votes
3 answers

Bailey–Borwein–Plouffe formula

$\displaystyle \pi = \sum_{k = 0}^{\infty}\left[ \frac{1}{16^k} \left( \frac{4}{8k + 1} - \frac{2}{8k + 4} - \frac{1}{8k + 5} - \frac{1}{8k + 6} \right) \right]$ How does the BBP formula for digits of $\pi$ works exactly? Why does it use…
AvZ
  • 1,691
  • 1
  • 11
  • 24
9
votes
1 answer

Extracting the nth digit of pi using Plouffe's formula?

I have come upon the following formula to extract the nth digit of pi in base 10: $$\pi + 3 = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{n 2^n n!^2}{(2n)!} $$ But this just seems to be a formula for pi. How can I use this formula to extract the nth digit of pi?
Nico A
  • 4,934
  • 4
  • 23
  • 49
8
votes
4 answers

Which number its greater $\pi^3$ or $3^\pi$?

$ \pi^3$ or $3^\pi$ using algebra please, I arrive the solution whith $a^x > 1 + x$ but I am interested in more solutions.
Manuel
  • 91
  • 2
8
votes
1 answer

just another $\pi$ formula

I've found this $\pi$ formula: $$ \pi =\lim_{n\to \infty }4\sum_{k=1}^{n} \frac{2 n^3 (1-2 k)^2 \left((k-1) k+n^2\right)}{\left(k^2+n^2\right)^2\left((k-1)^2+n^2\right)^2} $$ What is interesting is that the formula has a very simple geometric…
1
2 3
8 9