Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vfjqv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T17:37:20.292Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An elementary method of calculating π

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2016

C. W. Puritz
C. W. Puritz*
Affiliation:
Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, Bucks. HP13 6QT
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Boys who have learned to find π using jam jars and string are often mystified to learn that the number has been calculated to thousands of decimal places: the infinite series and products usually quoted cannot be justified without analysis.

This article is about a method whose derivation involves only elementary algebra and trigonometry (including square roots and Pythagoras), and whose use is a feasible proposition even when only four-figure tables are available for the square roots.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Mathematical Gazette , Volume 58 , Issue 404 , June 1974 , pp. 102 - 108
Copyright
Copyright © Mathematical Association 1974

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Page no 103 note † The first draft of this article was based on the use of (B), with (A) receiving only a passing mention. I am indebted to Dr. Howlett of the Atlas Computer Laboratory for pointing out the considerable advantage of using (A).