Why is 3.14 called Pi? [2023]

Welcome to Why Pi™, the home of all things pi! Today we're going to dive into the age-old question of why 3.14 is called pi, and provide you with all the information you need to become a pi master. Our team of expert educators and engineers have scoured the internet and dusted off dusty old books to bring you the most comprehensive guide on the topic yet! So, without further ado, let's get started.

What is pi?

Before we get into the history and naming of pi, let's first ensure we're all clear on what pi actually is. Pi is a mathematical constant, represented by the Greek letter π, that represents the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The value of pi is approximately 3.14159, but it is an irrational number, meaning it has infinite non-repeating decimal places.

The History of Pi

The history of pi spans centuries, with some of the earliest known approximations of pi dating back to ancient Egypt and Babylon. But it wasn't until the 18th century that mathematicians began using the symbol π to represent the constant. The symbol was first used by Welsh mathematician William Jones in 1706, but it wasn't until it was popularized by Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler in the mid-18th century that it began to gain widespread use.

Why 3.14 is called pi?

The number 3.14 is not actually called pi, but rather it is an approximation of its value. So why is this particular approximation so commonly associated with pi? To answer that, we need to look at the Greek mathematician Archimedes. In the 3rd century BCE, Archimedes used a process called the method of exhaustion to approximate pi, using polygons inscribed within and circumscribed around a circle. His calculations gave an approximation of pi between 3.1408 and 3.1429, which is very close to the modern approximation of 3.14159.

Other Approximations of Pi

While 3.14 is the most commonly known approximation of pi, there have been many others throughout history. For example, the ancient Babylonians used an approximation of 3.125, while the Chinese mathematician Zu Chongzhi approximated pi to seven decimal places in the 5th century CE. In modern times, computers have been used to calculate pi to trillions of decimal places, with the record currently standing at over 62 trillion digits!

Fun Facts about Pi

• March 14th (3/14) is celebrated as Pi Day around the world
• There are no occurrences of the sequence "123456" in the first million digits of pi
• Pi is the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet
• Albert Einstein was born on Pi Day (March 14, 1879)
• In 2019, a team of researchers used supercomputers to calculate pi to 31.4 trillion decimal places, setting a new world record

FAQ

Why 3.14 is the value of pi?

3.14 is not the exact value of pi, but rather a common approximation. This approximation comes from the 3rd century BCE mathematician Archimedes, who used a process called the method of exhaustion to calculate an approximation of pi between 3.1408 and 3.1429.

Why is pi 3.14 and not just 3?

Pi is an irrational number, meaning it has infinite non-repeating decimal places. While the value of pi is approximately 3.14159, the number 3 is not an accurate enough approximation to be useful in most mathematical calculations.

Why is pi 3.14 and not 4?

The number 4 is not an accurate enough approximation of pi to be used in most mathematical calculations, and is therefore rarely used to represent the constant.

Quick Tips and Facts

• Memorizing pi may be a fun party trick, but it won't actually help you solve most mathematical problems
• Calculating pi has been an important challenge in computer science for decades
• Pi can be used to calculate the area and circumference of circles, as well as the volume and surface area of spheres

Conclusion

So there you have it, the comprehensive guide to why 3.14 is called pi! We hope you've learned something new about this fascinating mathematical constant, and are inspired to dive deeper into the world of pi. Remember, while memorizing the digits of pi may be a fun party trick, it's the understanding of the concepts behind pi that is truly valuable.