Pie!!!

[jmiller]

How do you calculate PI mathematically?

[A$$Bandit]

Pi can be defined as 4tan^-11^c, i.e. four times the inverse tangent of 1 radian. So I suppose you could use that for whatever purpose. Problem is, you can't just "calculate" pi, because it's a constant.

[Sastraxi]

Or, in VB, Atn(4)... I think.

[DiGiTaIErRoR]

If you just want some pie.......

3.1415926535897932384626433832795

[jmiller]

yes, but pie is calculated (and i think still is being calculated) to many digits. How is it that mathmaticians do this? I know it's with computers, but how do they do it on the computers?

[marnitzg]

You have your formula, so whats your problem. To calculate this without a calculator is tedious work but can be done. The following power series is equivalent to arctan 1
Sum (n = 0 -> inf) ((-1)ⁿ)/(2n+1)
Now that you have arctan and you have calculated the series to the infinite position , all you have to do is multiply by 4

[marnitzg]

BTW, pie is edible, pi isn't

[DiGiTaIErRoR]

Scroll down on the the main math forum page, you'll see a post answering your question.

[jim mcnamara]

Math graffiti -

PI R SQUARED

NO!!

PI R ROUND

Sorry - I'm Pie-eyed from all these PI posts.

[Blinky Bill]

Originally posted by jim mcnamara
Math graffiti -

Sorry - I'm Pie-eyed from all these PI posts.

LOL

[sql_lall]

"Pi r squared"
NO!!!
"Pi r round'

ACTUALLY:
"Pi IS round" -better grammar

[hikaru]

Originally posted by A$$Bandit
Pi can be defined as 4tan^-11^c, i.e. four times the inverse tangent of 1 radian. So I suppose you could use that for whatever purpose. Problem is, you can't just "calculate" pi, because it's a constant.

My math teacher said that 'back in the day' of no calculators, they had to make pie equivilant to 22/7

Not so much exact but it was close.

As for the question of how they calculate pi.. they do use computers but I'm not sure how.

I remember reading that they've calculated pi to already several thousand digits already.. still haven't found the end or the repeater (my year 10 math teacher last year freaked us out when he stated pi to about 50 digits or so.. funny stuff).

[da_silvy]

Originally posted by sql_lall
"Pi r squared"
NO!!!
"Pi r round'

ACTUALLY:
"Pi IS round" -better grammar

graffiti artists have poor grammar

[MR2]

Originally posted by hikaru
I remember reading that they've calculated pi to already several thousand digits already

More like hundreds of millions. You can download the Super Pi to check the speed of your CPU. A fast Athlon (i.e. XP2200 or better) can calculate a million digits in about a minute.

[Rh0ads]

and slower ones (< 166 mhz ) take about 3 hours,