MHB Approximating Pi to Different Digits

  • Thread starter Thread starter soroban
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Pi
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on methods for approximating the value of Pi (π) to various digits using continued fractions. The approximations presented include stopping at different points in the fraction series, yielding values such as 22/7, 355/113, and 104,348/33,215. Each approximation provides increasing accuracy, with the final approximation reaching 3.141592654. The calculations illustrate how continued fractions can effectively represent irrational numbers like Pi. Overall, the thread emphasizes the mathematical techniques behind approximating Pi to different levels of precision.
soroban
Messages
191
Reaction score
0

Watch this . . .\pi \;=\;3.141592645

. . = \;3 + 0.141592654 \;=\; 3 + \dfrac{1}{7.062573306} . [1]

. . =\;3 + \dfrac{1}{7 + 0.062573306} \;=\; 3 + \frac{1}{7+ \dfrac{1}{15.99659441}} .[2]

. . =\;3 + \dfrac{1}{7 + \dfrac{1}{15 + 0.99659441}} \;=\; 3 + \dfrac{1}{7 + \dfrac{1}{15 + \dfrac{1}{1.003417228}}}

. . [=\;3 + \dfrac{1}{7 + \dfrac{1}{15 + \dfrac{1}{1 + 0.003417228}}} \;=\;3 + \dfrac{1}{7 + \dfrac{1}{15 + \dfrac{1}{1 + \dfrac{1}{292.6348491}}}} .[3]If we stop at [1]: .\pi \;\approx\;3+\frac{1}{7} \;=\;\frac{22}{7} \;=\;3.142857...

If we stop at [2]: .\pi\;\approx\;3 + \frac{1}{7 + \dfrac{1}{16}} \;=\;\frac{355}{113} \;=\;3.14159292...

If we stop at [3]: .\pi \;\approx\;3 + \frac{1}{7+\dfrac{1}{15+\dfrac{1}{1 + \dfrac{1}{293}}}} \;=\;\frac{104,\!348}{33,\!215} \;=\;3.141592654...
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
This was part of a series of lessons I did at a Harry Potter site, so disregard the first few sentences :P

lesson7part1.jpg

Pi-unrolled-720.gif

lesson7part2.jpg

pi1.jpg

lesson7part3.jpg

pi2.jpg

lesson7part4.jpg

pi3.jpg

lesson7part5.jpg

lesson7part6.jpg
 
Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...

Similar threads

Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
2
Replies
86
Views
13K
Replies
3
Views
2K
2
Replies
93
Views
15K
Replies
3
Views
5K
Back
Top