Bits and Beyond...
PI
Pi is the
ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.
Approximation of pi has began as early as the ancient times. One of
the well-known one was by the great Greek mathematician Archimedes, who
started approximating Pi by inscribing a hexagon into a circle. With
the hexagon, pi was calculated to have a value of 3. Doubling the number
of sides and inscribing a dodecagon in the same circle, his new value
became closer to pi. He continued until he used a 96-gon, and found a
better approximation of 3.1419. A Chinese mathematician Lui Hui took
Archemedes' method farther. He used a 3,072-gon and approximated pi
to have a value of 3.1416. A very good approximation.
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