Baudhayana: The man who discovered ‘pi’

Ancient Indian mathematician Baudhayana is perhaps the first person to calculate the value of ‘pi’. In his text Baudhayana Shulba Sutra, he mentions that the perimeter of the pit is thrice its diameter, so the approximate value of π is 3.

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The one millionth digit of pi is a one

The value of pi is represented as 3.14159 or 22/7. However, pi is a transcendental number, which means that it is a nonterminating, nonrecurring decimal. Mathematicians have used computers to calculate the value of pi to millions of digits. The millionth digit after the decimal has been calculated and found to be the number ‘1’.

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Reckon your knowledge about transcendental numbers

A transcendental number is the one which cannot be obtained as roots of an equation with rational coefficients like, 3x2 + 2x + 4 = 0.
The mathematical constant or Euler’s number ‘e’ and ‘pi’ are examples of transcendental numbers. The proof of above proposition is not very simple, which is partly the reason why ‘e’ and ‘p’ could not be shown to be so respectively till 1873 and 1882. Both ‘e’ and ‘p’ are non-recurring and non-terminating decimals. The values of ‘e’ and ‘p’, correct up to fifty decimal places, are respectively.

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Commemorating Pi on Pi Day

In every circle, the circumference bears a constant ratio to its diameter. This constant is a transcendental number, denoted by the Greek alphabet π (Pi). Pi is approximately equal to 22/7 or 3.14159. Pi Day is observed on July 22 (or 22/7 in day/month date format). Pi Day is also observed on March 14 (3.14 in the month, date format) to commemorate the mathematical constant.

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