The most recognizable constant in mathematics is the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle. Today, we use the Greek symbol, π, to represent this ratio. The existence of this constant has been known for a very long time. It actually comes from nature, so it was always there, waiting for us to discover it. The earliest textual evidence of this ratio dates back to the Babylonian and Egyptian civilizations. One particular artifact fascinates me. It consists of a list of eighty-four (84) practical problems encountered in administrative and building works. It is known as the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus, now in the British Museum. It does not explicitly state the value of the ratio. Instead, one of the problems calculates the area of a circle as the square of eight-ninths of its diameter. The resulting solution was 3.16. Explore this fascinating artifact. Learn how math was used to solve practical problems in the world of the ancient Egyptian civilization.
By the way, the symbol, π, has been used in this mathematical sense for only the past 250 years. But that’s a topic for another blog.
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